LIBRARY 

Uf  ;v-1*SITY  OF 
CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DIEGO 


A   FREELANCE   IN   KASHMIR 


A    FREELANCE    IN 
KASHMIR 

A    TALE   OF   THE   GREAT  ANARCHT 


BY 

LIEUT.-COLONEL   G,    F.  MAcMUNN,   D.S.O. 

AUTHOR  OF  "ARMIES  OF  INDIA"  AND  "PIKE  AND  CARRONADE" 


NEW    YORK 

E.   P.   BUTTON    fcf   COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 


PRINTED   BY 

WILLIAM  CLOWES   AND   SONS,   LIMITED 
LONDON  AND   BECCLES 


INTRODUCTION 


THE  following  romance  is  a  story  of  the  latter  days  of 
"  The  Great  Anarchy,"  a  name  which  has  been  given 
to  the  years  following  the  death  of  the  Emperor 
Aurangzebe  and  the  dismemberment  of  the  Mogul 
Empire  to  the  bringing  of  peace  to  a  distracted  country 
by  the  rise  of  the  English.  In  1707  died  Aurangzebe, 
the  last  of  the  great  Emperors  of  Delhi.  From  that 
date  the  Empire  crumbled  as  province  after  province 
fell  away  and  one  upstart  after  another  tried  to  rule 
the  puppet  throne.  Ever  from  the  North,  Persian  and 
Afghan  poured  into  the  land,  and  the  whole  of  Hin- 
dostan  became  a  vast  camp,  in  which  each  and  all 
fought  for  his  own  hand,  and  the  unhappy  peasantry 
never  knew  who  would  reap  the  crops  they  had  sown  and 
tended.  The  last  fifty  years  of  the  eighteenth  century 
saw  a  small  host  of  Europeans  take  service  with  the 
various  contending  chiefs,  and  even  carve  principalities 
for  themselves.  They  organized  the  forces  of  chiefs  on 
European  lines,  and  contended  with  one  another  in 
opposing  ranks.  English,  French,  American,  Italian, 
and  Dutch,  from  runaway  sailor  to  refugee  Chevalier, 
their  histories  are  packed  with  romance,  adventure, 
and  tragedy.  Just  before  Lord  Lake  and  General 
Arthur  Wellesley  crushed  the  power  of  the  great 
Maratha  usurpers  of  the  Mogul  throne,  and  broke  up 
the  Maratha  Confederacy,  the  Savoyard  De  Boigne  in 
the  service  of  the  Maharajah  Scindiah  had  organized  a 


vi  INTBODUCTION 

large  force  on  the  Company's  model.  He  had  formed 
an  officer's  cadre  with  even  a  cadet  service,  recruited 
from  Europeans  of  many  races.  The  half-breed 
children  of  English  officials  and  their  Indian  wives 
found  a  career  in  this  service,  notably  James  Skinner, 
the  famous  "  old  Sikander."  Among  the  "  freelances  " 
as  they  were  called  were  the  Skinners,  De  Boigne, 
Perron,  the  Chevalier  Dudrenac,  George  Thomas  of 
Hansi,  Walter  Reinhart,  nicknamed  Sombre  (corrupted 
into  Somru),  Hyder  Hearsey,  and  many  another,  while 
in  somewhat  later  days  there  were  the  officers  in  the 
service  of  Eunjeet  Singh,  of  whom  Avitabile,  Allard 
Ventura  and  Van  Cortland  were  the  best  known. 

To  the  fascination  of  the  days  of  the  Freelance 
proper,  i.e.  the  last  decades  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
must  be  added  the  traces  of  the  Christian  tradition, 
the  strange  legend  of  the  Tomb  of  Christ  in  Kashmir, 
and  the  initials  of  the  Cross  on  the  Kashmir  rupee, 
born  of  Jesuit  travel.  Behind,  and  yet  mingling  with 
this  again,  the  Afghan  origin,  the  descent  from  Saul, 
the  tomb  of  the  prophet  Lamech  with  that  curious 
and  almost  modern  report  of  the  presence  of  "  Dan 
and  the  half  of  Manassah  "  in  Bactria,  with  all  the 
hint  of  Judaism  that  it  involves.  Then  as  a  back- 
ground to  it  all  the  ever-green  memory,  in  village 
mouths  to  this  day,  of  the  great  coming  of  Alexander 
of  Macedon. 

India  is  full  of  so  much  that  strikes  old  broken 
chords  to  memory. 

"  Some  arms  deep  rusted,  an  old-world  rhyme, 
A  broken  idol,  a  ruined  fane.". 

G.  F.  M. 
September,  1914. 


GAZETTEER   AND    GLOSSARY 


Abdalli      .         .     Another  name  for  the  Duranni  race. 
Amamath  .        .     Caves  in  the  Liddar  Valley  in  Kashmir. 
Baltistan  .        .     A  mountain  district  north  of  Kashmir. 
Badakshan         .     A  province  in  Central  Asia,  Afghanistan. 
Begum       .        .     A  Muhammadan  lady's  title  (fern,  of  Beg). 
Ben-i-Israel      .    Children  of   Israel,   a  title  claimed  by  the 

Duranni  tribes. 
Bij  Biharas        .    An  old    Mogul    garden  in   the  Jhelum  in 

Kashmir. 

Birmal      .        .    A  district  in  Afghanistan  south  of  Ghuzni. 
Black  Mountain    A  mass  of  mountains  east  of  Peshawur  and 

south  of  the  Indus. 
Burzil        .        .    A  pass  leading  from  Kashmir  to  the  Gilgit 

province. 

Chib          .        .    A  Eajpoot  tribe  of  the  Punjab  hills. 
Chilas        .        .     A  village  and  district  on  the  Indus  above  the 

Black  Mountain. 
Cheneni     .        .    A  small  Kajpoot  state  and  town  in  the  Pir 

Panjal. 
Churel       .        .    The  ghost  of  a  woman  who  had  died  at 

childbirth. 

Cossid        .        .    A  mounted  messenger. 
Dardistan  .        .    The  country  of  the  Dards,  north  of  Kashmir. 
Darel         .        .    A    wild    mountain    district   north    of    the 

Indus,  and  west  of  Gilgit. 
Duranni    .        .    The  name  of  the  ruling  race  in  Afghanistan. 


Vlll 


GAZETTEER  AND  GLOSSARY 


Dole  .        .        .A  long  Afghan  drum. 

Euzufzai   .        .     The  Sons  of  Joseph ;  a  group  of  tribes  in  the 

mountains  about  Peshawur, 
Gargabal  .        .    A  sacred  lake  near  Haramukh. 
Gilgit        .        .    A  town  and  province  between  Kashmir  and 

the  Pamirs. 

Ghazi        .        .    A  fanatical  swordsman. 
Ghor          .        .    A  mountainous  district  of  Southern  Afghani- 
stan. 

Gurais       .        .    A  beautiful  valley  and  village  in  Kashmir. 
Hazara      .        .    A  district  near  the  Black  Mountain ;  also  a 

Mongol  race  in  Afghanistan. 
Hara-mukh       .    A  mountain  in  Kashmir. 
Hari  Parbat      .    A  fortified  hill  overlooking  Srinagar. 
Huqa         .        .    An  Eastern  pipe,  or  hubble  bubble. 
Huzoor      .        .    Lit.  "  Presence."    A  title  of  respect. 
Jaghir       .        .    Land  granted  in  perpetuity  on  the  feudal 

system. 

Jezail        .        .An  Afghan  matchlock. 
Jhok         .        .    A  homestead. 
Jihad         .        .    A  religious  war  of  Islam. 
Jirgah       .        .    The     representative     assembly     of    tribal 

elders. 

Jowan        .        .    A  young  man. 
Kafila        .        .    A  caravan. 
Kamri       .        .    A    pass    in    Kashmir   alternative    to    the 

Burzil. 

Kanzilwan         .    A  village  at  the  foot  of  the  Kamri  pass. 
Kazilbash          .    Persians  settled  in  Afghanistan. 
Kabab       .        .    Lumps  of  meat  cooked  on  a  skewer. 
Kala  Taka         .    Black  Mountain. 
Kasid  or  Cossid    A  mounted  messenger. 
Karewa      .        .    An  alluvial    plateau    in    Kashmir  through 

which  a  river  has  cut  its  bed. 
Khagaa     .        .    A  valley  in  the  mountains  west  of  Kashmir. 


GAZETTEEE  AND  GLOSSARY 


IX 


Khagwani .        .    One  of  the  Duranni  clans. 

Khassadar         .    Militia. 

Khistwar  .        .    A  district  in  the  Pir  Panjal. 

Kirri .        .        .    The  camp  of  a  nomadic  tribe. 

Kishengunga     .    A  river  of  Kashmir  running  into  the  Jheluna. 

Kommadan       .    Commandant. 

Lascar       .        .    A  gunner ;  literally  a  soldier. 

Lashkar     .        .    An  army. 

Lolab        .        ,    A  beautiful  valley  in  Kashmir,  colonized  by 

Afghans. 

Malik        .        .    A  headman. 
Mhanji      .        .    A  rower. 
Mogul        .        .    The  Mongolian  race  who  conquered  India 

under  Baber. 
Mooltan    .        .    An  Afghan  city,  in  what  is  now  the  Southern 

Punjab. 

Moolah      .        .    A  priest  of  Islam. 
Pathan       .        .    People  who  speak  the  Pushtoo ;  tribesman 

of  the  hills   between  Afghanistan    and 

India. 
Pandav     .        .    An  ancient  Indian  fabulous  race  of  kings. 

Pawindah        or  1  .  ,  .,,  ,      ,  „, 

Powandah  I      nomad  race  with  centre  about  Ghuzni. 

Pir  Panjal  .  The  great  snowy  spurs  of  the  Himalaya 
which  separate  Kashmir  from  the 
Punjab. 

Rafzi         .        .    A  heretic. 

Rajpoot  .  .  Literally  Sons  of  Kings;  one  of  the  great 
ruling  Aryan  races  of  India. 

Rissalah    .        .    A  squadron,  or  corps  of  cavalry. 

Sanad        .        .    A  treaty. 

Salaam      .        .    Peace ;  a  salutation. 

Shapiyon  .        .    A  village  in  Kashmir,  close  to  the  Pir  Panjal. 

Sirdar        .        .    Chief;  officer. 

Sind  .        .        .A  tributary  of  the  Jhelurn. 


x  GAZETTEEE  AND  GLOSSARY 

Suddozai   .        .    The  clan  royal  of  the  Durannis. 

Surnai       .        .     An  Afghan  reed  pipe. 

Swami       .        .     A  Hindu  ascetic  recluse. 

Tazi  .        .        .A  swift  breed  of  horses. 

Tangir       .        .     A  wild  mountain  district  near  Gilgit. 

Toorkoman        .     Men  of  Toork  races  of  Central  Asia,  of  whom 

many  had  come  to  India  with  the  various 

invaders  from  the  North. 

Verinag     .         .    An  old  royal  palace  and  temple  in  Kashmir. 
Zogi  La     .        .A  pass  out  of  Kashmir  towards  Thibet. 


SINCE  the  nomenclature  of  the  characters  in  an  Indian 
romance  is  always  puzzling  to  the  reader,  a  list  of 
the  persons  mentioned  by  name  is  given  here. 


DAVID  FEASEB        . 

Lucius  TONE  . 

JEAN  ARMANDE   DU] 
PLESSIS  j 

GANESHA  SINGH 
NIHAL  SINGH  . 

GUL  JAN 
SALABAT  KHAN 
YAR  KHAN 
HABIB  ULLAH 
ALTAMISH 
WALI  DAD 
DAOUD  SHAH  . 

INAYAT  ULLAH         . 

ALLAHDAD  KHAN 

DUNDOO 

THE  BEGUM  SOMRU 

THE    LADY   MIRIAM 

THE  LADY  NUR  JAN) 
THE  BIBI  ALANA      £ 

THE  BEGUM  ALLAH) 
VISAYAH  ) 

AZIZUN    . 
AMAH 


The  hero  of  the  story,  son  of  an  officer  of 
the  Bengal  Artillery  and  an  Afghan 
mother. 

An  ex-Artillery  Sergeant. 
A  Jesuit  Priest. 

A  Eajpoot  native  officer. 

A  Rajpoot  native  non-commissioned 
officer. 

David  Fraser's  Afghan  orderly. 

The  Governor  of  Kashmir. 

His  Wazir. 

Commandant  of  his  bodyguard. 

A  Toork  noble. 

An  agent  of  his. 

An  Afghan,  generalissimo  of  the  Begum 
Somru's  army ;  a  mysterious  cha- 
racter. 

Commandant  of  the  palace  at  Srinagar. 

A  soldier  of  the  Chib  tribe. 

Infant  son  of  Allah  Visayah. 

An  Indian  princess  well  known  to  history. 

A  sister  of  Salabat  Khan. 

Wives  of  Salabat  Khan. 

A  notorious  courtesan  of  Srinagar. 

A  famous  dancer. 
Miriam's  old  nurse. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I.  THE  BEGUM  SOMRU'S  CAMPO       ....  1 

II.  SHATRANJ-BAZI 13 

III.  THE  NORTH  ROAD       ......  24 

IV.  THE  NIGHT  SKIRMISH          .....  33 
V.  OVER  THE  PIR  WITH  MIRIAM      ....  44 

VI.  THE  RIVAL  PARTY  AT  SRINAGAR  .        .       r       .  55 

VII.  ALIABAD  SERAI     .......  69 

VIII.  THE  PILGRIM  HOSTS    .        .        ...        .79 

IX.  THE  GARDEN  OF  SWEET  BREEZES       .        .       .89 

X.  THE  NIGHT  ON  THE  TOP  OF  THE  PASS       .        .  101 

XI.  A  COUNCIL  OF  WAR 110 

XII.  THE  NIGHT  RIDE 120 

XIII.  THE  REWARD  OF  REBELLION       ....  180 

XIV.  IN  THE  STREETS  OF  SRINAGAR    ....  140 
XV.  THE  SHERGARHI  .......  151 

XVI.  TOORK,  AFGHAN,  AND  FRANK       ....  164 

XVII.  THE  RETURN  OF  SALABAT  KHAN         .        .        .  176 

XVIII.  WITH  MIRIAM  IN  THE  GARDEN    ....  189 

XIX.  DAVID'S  CAMP  ON  THE  DHALL      ....  198 


xiv  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XX.    DURBAR  AND  FESTIVAL 208 

XXI.  THE  GROVES  OF  ASHTAROTH     ....  221 

XXII.  TROUBLE  ON  THE  BORDER        ....  236 

XXIII.  WAR  AND  RUMOURS  OF  WAR    ....  245 

XXIV.    THE  ARMY  ADVANCES 255 

XXV.    DEFEAT 265 

XXVI.  BANGLES  RING  SOFTLY  AND  SADLY  .        .        .  279 

XXVII.    TENDER  RUTH 291 

XXVIII.  THE  STRATAGEM  OF  FEROZ  TUGLAK         .        .  299 

XXIX.  THE  TEMPLE  OF  THE  SUN        .        .        .        .308 

XXX.  THE  HUNDREDTH  NAME  OF  GOD      .        .        .  821 

XXXI.  THE  PAX  BRITANNICA  335 


A 

FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  BEGUM   SOMEU'S   CAMP 

THE  hour  of  high  twelve  boomed  across  the  plain  of 
the  Jumna  Kadir  as  the  great  brass  field-piece  Malik- 
i-maidan  (the  Lord  of  the  battlefield)  fired  its  midday 
charge  in  the  campo  of  the  Begum  Somru,  after  the 
custom  of  the  English.  Her  Highness  was  the  Company 
Bahadur's  very  good  friend  for  several  excellent 
reasons.  The  first  reason  was  that  it  eminently  suited 
her  interests;  and  the  second  one  was  that  she  had 
had  tender  passages  with  sturdy  English  George  Thomas 
of  Hansi,  which  had  taken  out  of  her  mouth  the  bad 
taste  left  by  her  lawful  spouse,  evil  Walter  Eeinhart, 
nicknamed  Sombre.  A  third  was  that  she  had  just 
had  a  satisfactory  interview  with  the  English  Com- 
mander-in- Chief,  General  Gerald  Lake,  who  had 
beaten  the  Marathas  and  their  French-trained  army 
at  Delhi. 

It  was  true  that  the  gallant  General  had  received 
her  in  full  Durbar  and  had  kissed  her  before  the 
assembled  officers,  to  their  no  small  delight,  the  which 
had  taken  some  explaining  to  her  retinue.  She  had, 
however,  succeeded  in  conveying  the  impression  that 
it  was  a  mark  of  very  great  favour  among  the  English, 

B 


2  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

and  that  it  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the 
General's  good  lunch. 

The  army  of  Her  Highness  consisted  of  a  mixed 
brigade  of  all  arms,  horse,  foot,  and  artillery,  a  rissalali  * 
of  horse  of  mixed  nationality,  two  battalions  of  foot- 
men, one  with  muskets  presented  by  the  English,  and 
one  armed  with  the  matchlock  of  the  country  side ; 
and  lastly,  the  pride  of  every  chieftain,  the  park  of 
artillery.  Her  Highness's  park  of  artillery  was  not  a 
very  formidable  one.  There  were  two  light  threes 
that  the  Company  had  presented  her  as  galloper  guns, 
two  rickety  nines,  and  the  pride  of  the  campo,  the 
great  brass  eighteen-pounder  carronadc  that  had  just 
boomed  forth  high  twelve. 

The  campo  was  arranged  in  an  irregular  square, 
the  horse  on  one  side,  the  foot  on  the  opposite  one, 
a  third  occupied  by  the  park  of  artillery  with  the 
Begum's  tents  beyond.  A  peopal  tree  in  the  fore 
ground,  a  ruined  shrine  at  its  foot,  with  irregular 
clumps-  of  mimosa  round  the  edges  of  the  camp  com- 
pleted the  scene,  and  away  in  the  distance,  the  white 
buttress  of  the  Himalaya,  shimmered  in  the  noonday 
sun,  and  a  dust  devil  danced  widdershins  down  the 
track  hard  by. 

But  though  it  was  the  hour  of  midday  rest,  for  some 
reason  the  army  slept  not,  and  a  hum  of  voices 
permeated  the  camp.  Something  had  annoyed  the 
soldiery,  and  that  something  was  no  less  than  empty 
pockets.  Pockets  so  empty  that  even  tobacco  was 
wanting,  and  it  was  little  avail  to  swagger  past  the 
house  on  the  wall  in  the  town  they  saw  across  the 
fields,  for  who  cared  for  an  empty-handed  swash- 
buckler ruffle  he  never  so  bravely.  Times  had  been 
bad  with  the  Begum  Somru,  the  Maratha  had  ravaged 
half  her  estates,  and  rents  were  overdue,  and  the 

*  A  cavalry  corps. 


THE  BEGUM  SOMEU'S  CAMP  3 

army  was  six  months  in  arrears  in  the  way  of  pay. 
Moreover,  they  were  still  camped  in  the  Company's 
territory,  and  there  was  no  living  on  the  merchant 
and   the  peasant,  as  Eastern  soldiers  should.    The 
army  of  Her  Highness  had  therefore  been  in  a  bad 
humour  these  two   months  past,  and  matters  had 
reached  a  climax,  brought  on  perhaps  by  the  jeers 
of  the  mercenary  fair  in  the  bazaars  of  the  neigh- 
bouring  town.    Possibly,    too,    the    commandant    of 
the  force,  a  lean  hungry  Afghan,   might  have  had 
something  to  do  with  it,  at  any  rate  the  army  had 
emerged  from,  its  tents  and  hummed  round  the  sham- 
ianah  of  their  lady  the  Begum  Somru,  with  little 
show  of  decorum,  and  many  murmurings.    Her  High- 
ness had   come  out   discreetly  veiled,   but  inwardly 
raging,  to  meet  her  turbulent  crew,  and  now  faced 
them  as  the  brass  eighteen  boomed  out  the  time  of 
day.    But,  alas!   for  the  danger  of  suggestion.    Big 
brass  Malik-i-maidan  had  been  standing  in  the  sun 
for  five  full  hours,  and  was  very  nearly  red  hot.    Some 
wag  had  seen  the  fun  of  it,  the  idea  had  flown  apace. 
"  Sit  her  on  the  breech  till  she  pays,"  had  been  the 
suggestion  and,  alas  for  royalty  flouted !    that  dis- 
solute soldiery  then  and  there  had  seized  her  and 
hoisted  her  astride  the  gun.    As  the  hot  metal  burnt 
through  the  thin  muslin  trousers,  Her  Highness  gave 
forth  a  shriek  of  rage  and  pain,  and  as  she  did  so  the 
laughing  crowd  were  torn  asunder  and  a  tall  English 
figure,  in  a  yellow  laced  jacket  and  dragoon  helmet, 
swung   the   Begum  from   her  humiliating    seat,   lay 
around  him  with  a  heavy  iron-shod  stick,  and  thrust 
his  pistol  into  the  face  of  one  who  made  to  draw  his 
sword.    Behind,  half  a  dozen  mounted  men  in  yellow 
with  drawn  swords  followed   the  man  in  the  helmet, 
making  their  horses  kick  and  prance  to  clear  a  gang- 
way.   Then,  as  the  crowd  hung  back  to  study  the 


apparition,  up  strode  the  commandant,  laying  about 
him  right  and  left  and  showering  oaths  of  the  forcible 
Afghan  variety,  and  the  soldiery  slank  away,  at  the 
shouts  of  "  To  your  tents." 

Her  Highness  lent  wearily  on  the  Englishman's  arm, 
while  two  of  her  girls  cowered  behind  her.  The  yellow 
troopers  sat  their  horses  behind  the  sahib,  Daoud 
Shah,  the  Afghan,  sheathed  his  sword  with  a  slam, 
and  men  of  Her  Highness's  own  guards  ran  up.  The 
army  had  melted  away.  "  So  Daoud  Shah  of  the 
Ben-i-Israel,"  quoth  the  Begum ;  "  this  is  how  you 
can  command  an  army,  and  this  is  how  you  arrive 
late  to  help  me.  By  all  the  prophets  of  all  the  people 
of  all  the  Books,  I  have  had  enough  of  this,  see  you 
to  it  that  the  punishments  are  suitable,  and  think 
who  there  be  in  this  army  that  seek  your  place.  The 
Bijli  Rissaldh,  and  the  Fateh  Pultan,  march  in  this 
afternoon,  with  Mian  Sunnayat  Singh  at  their  head. 
And  you,  sir,"  turning  to  the  young  Englishman,  "  you 
are  the  young  sahib,  who  came  last  night  with  a 
troop  of  horse  seeking  service,  whom  I  am  to  see  in 
audience  this  evening.  Klmsli  amcded,*  indeed,  and 
my  thanks  for  bringing  these  dogs  to  their  senses. 
I  will  receive  you  at  sunset ;  till  then  you  have  leave 
to  go,  but  let  six  of  your  men  guard  my  tent,  to  teach 
this  crew  their  places.  Ho  Daoud  Shah !  with 
Sunnayat  Singh  comes  the  bakhshifi  see  that  the 
troops  know  it."  And  the  Begum  withdrew  to  her 
tents. 

The  Afghan  and  the  Englishmen  looked  each  other 
in  the  face,  as  men  of  the  north  should,  till  the  Afghan 
bit  his  lip  and  dropped  his  eye  and  the  sahib  turned 
on  his  heel  and  strode  to  his  tent,  to  turn  out  the 
guard  for  Her  Highness's  tents.  Six  stalwart  troopers, 
turned  out  like  English  dragoons  with  clean  arms  and 

*  Welcome.  t  Pay-master. 


THE  BEGUM  SOMKU'S  CAMP  5 

well  fitting  accoutrements,  yet  loose  enough  in  their 
Eastern  frocks,  were  duly  posted,  and  David  Fraser 
sat  him  down  in  his  tent  to  take  stock  of  the  day's 
doings,  and  to  consider  the  next  move. 

And  the  next  move  was  by  no  means  an  easy  one, 
for  Eastern  potentates  love  not  to  be  found  in  humilia- 
tion, and  it  is  not  always  the  saviour  that  receives 
the  favour.  When,  too,  to  the  caprice  of  the  East 
is  added  that  of  the  feminine,  it  may  take  the  best 
wits  to  turn  the  situation  to  advantage.  So  while 
David  Fraser  rests  in  the  noonday  heat  and  turns 
over  the  strange  situation  in  which  he  found  himself, 
it  will  be  as  well  to  review  the  circumstances  which 
brought  that  young  soldier  so  opportunely  into  the 
campo  of  Her  Highness  the  Begum  Somru,  relict  of 
that  unprincipled  adventurer  referred  to,  and  recently 
obligated  ally  of  the  Marquis  Wellesley,  the  East 
India  Company  Bahadur  and  their  master  His  Majesty 
King  George. 

In  the  year  of  Grace,  1804,  David  Fraser,  the  hero 
of  this  story,  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  the  son 
of  Major  Andrew  David  Fraser  of  Lagg  of  the  Hon. 
E.  I.  C.'s  Bengal  Artillery,  and  the  Sultana  Aluri 
Suddozai,  his  lawful  wife. 

The  '45  had  left  a  ruined  tower  at  Lagg,  and  a 
penniless  lad  to  be  brought  up  by  an  uncle  to  a  cadet- 
ship  in  the  Company's  Artillery,  with  few  ties  to  draw 
that  same  lad  back  from  the  East.  So  when  the 
Eohilla  War  and  fate  had  enabled  him  to  rescue  from 
some  irregular  troopers  the  beautiful  daughter  of  an 
Afghan  leader  of  horse,  who  had  ridden  from  Ghuzni 
to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  plains  of  Hindostan,  he 
married  her  then  and  there  by  all  the  rites  available, 
and  she  rode  at  his  side  in  camp  and  leaguer  for  many 
a  year.  Little  David  had  seen  the  light  in  the  guard- 
room of  the  gateway  of  a  Maratha  hill  fort,  and  lived 


6  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIK 

his  first  three  years  at  the  saddle  bow,  till  the  march 
of  peace  and  the  red  line  on  the  map  had  brought  his 
parents  to  anchor  in  cantonments.  If  to  the  ancient 
highland  blood  of  the  Frasers  you  add  that  of  the 
still  older  stock  of  the  Jewish  princes  from  the  mountains 
of  Ghor,  you  may  fairly  reckon  on  getting  blue  blood 
and  pride  of  race  and  high  courage  for  your  pains. 
The  Sultana,  like  any  other  high-bred  Afghan,  was 
little  darker  than  her  husband,  and  young  David's 
swarthiness  was  of  the  slightest,  while  his  clean-cut 
profile  and  lofty  forehead  proclaimed  him  as  well 
born  as  a  man  could  wish  to  be.  The  mother  had 
brought  the  lad  up  as  a  horseman,  and  a  man  at  arms, 
and  before  she  died,  when  he  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
had  entered  unsolicited  into  the  faith  of  her  husband, 
peacefully  changing  the  crescent  for  the  Cross,  and 
dying  happily  under  its  shadow.  Andrew  Fraser  in 
his  middle  age  had  developed  the  Presbyter  strain  of 
his  family,  and  had  brought  up  his  son  with  far  more 
care  than  was  then  usually  bestowed  on  those  children 
reared  in  India.  He  had  intended  that  he  also  should 
join  the  Company's  service,  and  to  this  end  had  taught 
the  willing  lad  much  of  his  own  stock  of  lore  in  guns 
and  gunnery.  An  old  Irish  batman  of  the  major's 
had  added  to  young  David's  education,  by  imparting 
a  cheery  and  simple  philosophy  that  has  brought 
peace  to  so  many  of  the  sons  of  Erin.  To  the  sterner 
Calvinism  of  the  old  Scot,  the  trustful  leaven  of  the 
illiterate  Irishman  was  a  curious  and  not  unfruitful 
addition.  The  "  Glory  be  to  God,  sorr,"  and  the 
"  Praise  the  Virgin,  sorr,"  that  rose  to  the  old  soldier's 
lips  at  almost  every  discussion,  mellowed  in  the  lad's 
mind  the  sterner  doctrine  of  his  father's  Presbyterian 
teaching.  It  was  more  of  the  "  Old  Hundred  "  than 
of  the  "  Quare  fremuerunt."  It  had  been  a  happy 
childhood,  the  stern  and  kindly  father,  the  beautiful 


THE  BEGUM  SOMEU'S  CAMP  7 

sad  and  fierce- eyed  mother,  the  old  servant,  his  play 
mate,  and  a  foster-mother  and  nurse  from  the  Deccan, 
all  devoted  to  the  child,  who  had  grown  up  tall  and 
straight  and  truthful.  He  suffered,  however,  from 
occasional  moods  of  melancholy,  the  sure  legacy  of 
a  mountain  race  behind  him  on  both  sides,  and 
now  and  again  had  given  way  to  wild  bursts  of 
passion,  which  grew  fewer  as  he  had  grown  older. 
The  mother  would  speak  of  a  terrible  grandfather,  a 
prince  and  a  ruler  in  Ghor,  who  had  never  spared  man 
in  his  wrath,  while  there  were  strong-willed,  fierce 
men  enough  away  down  the  Fraser  genealogy  to 
account  for  plenty  of  wayward  temper. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  young  David  Fraser  had  grown 
to  be  as  likely  a  lad  as  a  father  could  wish  to  see,  and 
the  dark  blood  in  his  veins  merely  bestowed  on  him 
the  complexion  of  any  dark-haired  man  of  Gael.  So 
according  to  his  father's  wishes  the  lad  went,  by  favour 
of  the  Directors,  to  the  Cadet  College  at  Barasset, 
there  to  receive  his  military  training.  Trouble  had 
ensued  soon  enough,  for  young  David  had  half  killed 
two  brother  cadets  who  had  taunted  him  with  his 
colour,  and  had  left  the  college  then  and  there,  and 
turned  up  at  Chunar  where  his  father  was  quartered, 
with  his  mind  set  on  consorting  no  more  with  the 
young  English  of  the  H.  E.  I.  Company's  service. 
Andrew  Fraser  had  then  confided  him  to  an  old  friend 
in  DeBoigne's  French  trained  army,  that  served 
the  Gwalior  State,  and  a  cadetship  under  DeBoigno 
had  soon  led  to  a  cornetcy  of  irregular  horse.  The 
DeBoigne  corps  were  as  systematically  organized  as 
the  Company's,  and  many  an  officer  had  put  his 
country-born  sons  to  service  there,  since  the  pure 
blood  Saxon  would  have  none  of  them.  But  then 
it  is  not  every  officer  of  the  Indian  army  who  had 
formed  a  union  with  a  princess  of  the  house  of  Ghor, 


8  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

and  half  the  blood  that  runs  in  the  veins  of  the  half- 
breed  children  was  often  poor  enough.  In  the  service 
of  Scindiah  were  courtly  French  officers  of  the  Ancien 
Eegime  side  by  side  with  the  most  scoundrelly  European 
adventurers  of  every  nationality,  but  the  strong  rule 
of  General  DeBoigne  had  kept  these  gentry  in  their 
proper  place,  and  the  service  was  one  in  which  honour 
and  renown  was  to  be  won,  with  little  of  the  evil  that 
prevailed  in  the  adventurer  forces  of  other  Indian 
rulers. 

So  the  boy  found  himself  under  that  prince  among 
the  old  irregulars,  James  Skinner  the  famous  half- 
breed,  like  himself  the  son  of  a  Company's  officer,  and 
soon  became  as  good  a  leader  of  a  troop  of  Goorcheras  as 
could  be  found  in  India.  With  the  departure  of 
M.  DeBoigne,  and  the  advent  to  power  of  General 
Perron,  Scindiah's  service  soon  lost  its  prestige,  and 
the  Maratha  league  against  the  English  and  the  Marquis 
Wellesley,  brought  nothing  but  rue.  The  English- 
born  officers  left  the  service,  and  Captain  Fraser  with 
a  small  following  had  set  off  to  seek  his  fortune  among 
the  princes  not  at  war  with  the  English. 

As  Generals  Lake  and  Wellesley  steadily  broke  the 
power  of  the  great  Maratha  confederacy  in  a  series 
of  victories  that  created  a  universal  respect  for  British 
arms  and  British  prestige,  Fraser  watched  it  all  from 
a  distance  with  mingled  pride  and  bitterness.  Pride 
in  being  the  son  of  his  father,  bitterness  that  narrow 
prejudice  had  driven  him  from  being  among  the  victors 
— bitterness  that  any  man  should  dare  look  down  on 
him  for  the  mother's  share  in  his  breeding.  Letters 
from  his  father  came  to  him  from  time  to  time  with 
money  remittances,  with  news  of  the  war  and  its 
progress,  in  which,  however,  Andrew  Fraser  was  not 
engaged.  Then  had  come  a  break  without  letters,  and 
at  last  the  news  from  an  old  friend  of  the  family  that 


THE  BEGUM  SOMEU'S  CAMP  9 

Major  Fraser  had  died,  leaving  apparently  little  but 
his  personal  property,  which  was  now  stored  awaiting 
the  son's  instructions. 

And  so  David  Fraser,  alone  in  the  world,  with  little 
but  his  sword  by  his  side,  and  his  uniform  of  Skinner's 
Irregulars,  had  set  out  to  fend  for  himself  for  the 
rest  of  his  life,  alone,  but  undaunted.  Miniatures  by 
a  Delhi  artist  of  his  father  and  mother,  a  pair  of  beauti- 
ful flint  pistols  that  had  been  out  with  his  grandfather 
in  the  '45,  and  a  Bible,  were  all  of  his  outer  connection 
with  the  European  world,  when  fate  had  brought 
him  seeking  service  in  the  campo  of  the  Begum 
Somru. 

So  reflecting  in  some  sort  on  the  happy  past  in  his 
father's  house,  and  on  the  ventures  of  the  day,  the 
hours  of  the  hot  afternoon  passed  away,  without,  how- 
ever, any  solution  as  to  his  future  line  of  conduct,  or 
how  he  should  comport  himself  in  the  forthcoming 
interview  with  the  princess.  Now  princesses,  black 
or  white,  or  for  the  matter  of  that  women  of  any  kind, 
had  not  come  within  the  curriculum  of  his  father's 
scheme  of  upbringing,  while  he  had  set  forth  into  the 
world  too  early  in  life  to  see  much  of  English  society. 
Somewhere  had  he  read  that  you  could  not  go  far 
wrong  in  life  if  you  struck  a  man  and  kissed  a  woman, 
whenever  you  met  them,  but  the  rule  hardly  seemed 
to  apply  in  this  case,  at  least  so  far  as  the  Begum  was 
concerned.  Danny  Irvine,  his  father's  batman,  had 
other  and  quaint  views  regarding  the  eternal  feminine, 
which  he  had  been  wont  to  communicate  at  times  in 
the  hour  when  he  sucked  at  a  dilapidated  clay,  but 
they,  too,  hardly  met  the  case.  So  about  the  time 
that  young  David  had  come  to  the  decision  that  it 
would  be  best  to  wait  on  circumstance,  his  orderly 
arrived  to  announce  that  his  namesake,  Daoud  Shah, 
the  commander  of  all  the  Begum's  campo,  was  about 


10  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

to  pay  him  a  visit  of  ceremony.  Now  Fraser  had 
intended  to  comply  with  that  formality  during  the 
morning,  and  had  sent  to  the  neighbouring  town  for 
a  suitable  offering  of  fruit  that  might  serve  as  his 
visiting  card,  after  the  manner  of  the  East.  The 
events  of  the  morning,  however,  had  frustrated  that 
intention,  and  now  contrary  to  precedent  here  was 
the  commander-in-chief  calling  first,  from  which  it 
might  be  opined  that  the  latter  regarded  Fraser  as 
a  man  who  for  the  moment,  at  any  rate,  was  of  some 
considerable  importance.  All  of  which  Fraser  was 
such  sufficiently  versed  in  the  ways  of  the  East  to 
thoroughly  understand  and  appraise  at  its  proper 
value.  "  Welcome,  welcome,  my  lord,"  said  he,  "  to 
this  humble  one's  shanty,"  as  his  excellency  entered 
with  a  suitable  salutation.  "  Peace  be  with  you  and 
yours,"  and  the  two  seated  themselves  on  the  rug 
spread  over  the  dusty  floor  of  the  tent.  When  the 
prolonged  inquiries  after  each  other's  health  had  been 
made,  it  was  not  so  easy  to  discover  a  topic  of  con- 
versation, and  Fraser  had  an  opportunity  to  scan 
more  closely  the  sardonic  features  of  his  visitor. 
The  Afghan  face  is  almost  always  a  Jewish  one,  though 
here  and  there  there  may  be  some  trace  of  the  old 
Greek  strain  from  Bactria,  and  Daoud  Shah's  features 
were  Jewish  in  the  extreme.  To  a  high  forehead 
and  almost  hooked  nose,  were  added  deep-set,  piercing 
eyes  with  a  queer  haunting  look  of  apprehension 
at  the  back  of  them,  and  heavy  lowering  eyebrows 
that  completed  an  exceptionally  sinister  effect.  A 
skin  deeply  cut  and  lined  with  a  thin,  dark  beard 
and  moustache  flecked  with  grey,  completed  his 
countenance.  A  dark  blue  puggari  hid  his  black 
hair,  and  the  rest  of  his  costume  was  of  the  usual 
flowing  type  of  the  Afghan  gentry,  while  round  his 
waist  was  a  leather  belt  with  a  pistol  and  long  straight 


11 

knife  therein.  The  visitor's  speech,  however,  was 
pleasant  enough,  and  he  talked  of  the  politics  of 
Hindostan  with  a  detached  air  that  gave  an  interesting 
appearance  of  inner  knowledge.  There  was  no  refer- 
ence as  to  what  he  was  dying  to  know,  viz.  the  young 
Englishman's  exact  business  and  what  had  brought 
him  to  the  camp  at  all. 

In  the  East,  however,  a  visit  of  ceremony  is  not 
protracted  for  long,  and  the  Afghan  soon  left  with  an 
invitation  to  come  sup  with  him  that  evening  which 
Fraser  accepted  willingly  enough,  with  a  mental 
note  to  remember  the  long  spoon,  that  precept  recom- 
mended for  such  occasions.  Then  when  the  Afghan 
took  his  departure  his  orderly  arrived  to  help  him  dress 
for  his  interview  with  Her  Highness.  Fraser,  at  no 
time  a  sloven,  and  imbued  with  a  young  man's  natural 
desire  to  look  his  best,  understood  well  enough  when 
a  man  should  bo  suitably  attired.  He  would  visit 
the  Begum  in  full  dress,  so  far  as  an  adventurer 
officer  could  have  such,  and  he  put  on  his  uniform  as 
an  officer  of  Skinner's  Irregular  Horse  in  the  service 
of  Scindiah,  with  a  British  dragoon  helmet  atop.  This 
consisted  of  a  loose  yellow  tunic  with  embroidered 
collar  cut  low  at  the  neck,  pieces  of  chain  mail  on 
the  shoulders  to  turn  a  sword  cut,  and  Kashmir- em- 
broidered cuffs.  In  those  days  even,  the  irregulars 
in  the  Company's  service  wore  the  kurta,  and  all  the 
more  so  in  Scindiah' s.  Under  the  loose  tunic  were 
loose  yellow  cotton  breeches  tucked  into  high  loose 
jack  boots,  a  la  Marechal  Turenne,  and  round  the 
waist  a  crimson  embroidered  sash  with  hanging  ends, 
and  a  stout  sambher  skin  sword  belt,  outside.  From 
the  belt  hung  a  curved  French  dragoon  sabre,  and 
the  two  ancestral  flint  pistols  therein  completed  our 
hero's  grand  tenue,  and  very  effective  it  was,  and  a 
pity  that  his  mother  could  not  have  seen  him  in  it. 


12  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

For  Fraser,  though  he  knew  it  not,  possessed  that  gift 
of  the  gods,  a  way  with  him  that  led  straight  to  women's 
hearts,  and  none  the  less  so  for  his  gallant  figure  in 
his  bravery.  And  so  wondering  what  might  be  in 
store  for  him,  his  hand  on  his  hip  and  his  sabre  trailing, 
David  Fraser  adventurer,  set  forth  to  visit  the  Begum 
Somru. 


CHAPTER  II 

SHATEANJ-BAZI 

OUTSIDE  the  tent  the  encampment  presented  a  lively 
appearance,  for  the  corps  under  Mian  Sunnayat  Singh 
had  marched  in,  and  it  was  "  the  hour  of  the  kine," 
when  the  flocks  coming  home  raised  long  trails  of 
dust  in  the  evening  gloom.  The  horses  of  the  campo 
were  passing  backwards  and  forwards  to  their  evening 
watering  at  the  tank  across  the  road.  The  sun  dipping 
on  the  horizon  just  glinted  on  a  peak  of  the  Himalaya 
that  was  visible  above  the  dust,  and  a  flight  of  kulan 
were  screaming  overhead.  Fraser  strode  over  to 
the  Begum's  tents  accompanied  by  his  orderly  and 
his  troop  duffedar,  one  Nihal  Singh,  a  handsome  veteran 
Eajpoot,  who  had  served  in  many  services  for  over 
thirty  years,  but  could  not  resist  the  glamour  of  the 
tented  life.  As  they  approached  Her  Highness's 
quarters,  the  guard  turned  out  to  give  a  ragged 
salute,  a  sure  sign  of  which  way  the  cat  might  jump, 
since  who  would  salute  an  unknown  Jeringhi  adven- 
turer without  good  cause. 

An  officer  of  the  household  received  the  Englishman, 
and  let  him  into  the  large  two-poled  tent  in  which  the 
Begum  half  veiled  and  clothed  in  crimson  silk,  sat 
waiting  to  receive  him,  with  two  of  her  maids  behind 
her.  The  official  who  received  him  left  him  at  the 

13 


14  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

entrance,  and  the  Begum's  voice  broke  the  silence 
which  followed  on  the  military  salute  which  Eraser 
had  given  her.  "  Eraser  Sahib"  said  a  mellow  and 
not  unpleasing  voice,  "  you  are  indeed  welcome. 
Come  and  sit  on  this  stool  and  tell  me  what  brings 
you  to  my  camp,  and  if  I  can  befriend  you."  And 
Eraser  drew  near  to  where  Her  Highness  sat  on  a  small 
low  divan  covered  with  cushions,  and  close  to  which 
stood  another  and  smaller  stool.  "  Eraser  Sahib" 
again  said  Her  Highness,  "  I  have  ordered  you  to  be 
admitted  to  see  me  privately,  and  have  sent  away 
my  attendants  all  save  those  two  girls.  I  have  to 
thank  you  for  your  assistance  against  those  insolent 
troopers  this  day,  and  I  would  speak  to  you  of  other 
matters  also.  Come  you  from  the  camp  of  General 


"  I  do  not,  your  Highness,"  said  Eraser.  "  I  come 
from  Eajputana  seeking  service  as  a  freelance,  and 
to  make  my  fortune,  for  I  have  little  else  save  my 
sword,  and  I  have  never  been  in  the  Company 
Baliadur's  service." 

"  Tell  me,  then,"  said  the  Begum,  "  how  you  come 
to  be  roaming  Hindostan,  for  I  see  you  are  English 
and  not  Erench,  and  therefore  belong  to  the  ruling 
race  of  much  of  this  country,  how  is  it  you  are  not 
a  Sahib  of  the  army,  for  you  look  a  soldier  bom,  I 
meet  Erench  officers,  and  other  Eranks  but  not  the 
English  unless  they  be  sons  of  officers  with  Indian 
mothers." 

"  There  is  no  reason  I  should  not  tell  your  Highness. 
My  father  was  an  officer  in  the  Company's  Artillery, 
and  my  mother  was  a  Duranni  of  Ghor,  daughter  of 
Ghaur  Khan  the  Eohilla,  who  came  out  of  Ghuzni 
to  follow  Nadir  Shah  the  Persian." 

"  Ah,  then  I  have  heard  of  you,  for  I  knew  your 
grandfather,  and  years  after  met  your  father,  with 


SHATEANJ-BAZI  15 

the  Sirkar's  troops  at  Allahabad,  and  a  proper  man 
he  was.  He  came  at  the  ^Resident's  request  to  look 
at  my  cannon,  and  they  told  he  had  married  a  Duranni 
lady.  It  would  be  better  if  more  Sahibs  married 
well- born  women,  than  mate  as  they  do,  with  the 
sluts  from  tho  bazaar.  Also  I  think  I  have  heard 
of  you.  Was  it  you  who  held  the  Tantri  pass  two 
years  ago,  with  the  Eajah  of  Dhond's  troops  against 
the  Chevalier  Dudrenac  and  Scindiah's  best  battalions 
you  with  some  of  James  Secunder's  troopers  ?  Then 
I  have  long  hoped  to  give  you  service,  if  you  came  my 
way,  but  not  yet.  I  have  other  matters  in  hand  at 
present  to  which  your  presence  will  not  help." 

And  the  Begum's  glance  for  all  that  fell  admiringly 
on  this  strong,  well-knit  young  man,  who  sat  beside 
her. 

"  I  have,  however,  a  mission  for  which  I  need  a 
faithful  messenger,  are  you  willing  to  serve  me  and 
take  your  chance  of  what  reward  I  can  give  you  ?  It 
is  not  much,  I  dare  promise,  since  things  in  Hindostan 
are  more  than  unsettled.  See  here.  The  Afghans 
seek  once  more  to  invade  the  Punjab,  and  drive  back 
the  Sikhs,  who  have  ousted  the  Abdalli,  and  regain 
Ahmad  Shah's  empire.  It  is  important  that  a  message 
connected  with  this  should  be  sent  to  Salabut  Khan, 
the  Duranni  governor  of  Kashmir,  and  it  is  important 
that  some  one  I  can  trust  should  be  with  the  Afghans 
that  I  may  know  when  these  Sikhs  are  to  be  put  in 
their  place,  and  what  I  am  to  do,  and  whether  I  am 
to  have  a  fair  share  of  land  north  of  Delhi.  I  can 
trust  an  Englishman,  even  when  he  has  Afghan  blood 
in  him,  and  I  now  ask  if  you  will  serve  me  in  this  matter. 
Later  on  I  may  want  you  here.  There  is  no  room  for 
you  and  Daoud  Shah  in  this  campo  together,  and  for 
my  present  purpose  Daoud  Shah  must  remain." 
And  the  lady  stopped,  for  long  speech  is  rare  in 


16  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

the    Oriental,  and   this  had    been    far    beyond    her 
wont. 

To  David  Fraser  the  vista  of  adventure  thus  opened 
up  was  attractive  enough.  He  had  long  wanted  to 
see  something  of  his  Afghan  kin,  while  to  the  young 
mind  Kashmir  sounded  a  fairy  land  as  it  had  done 
to  the  Mogul  Emperors  who  had  made  it  their  summer 
playground.  His  answer,  therefore,  to  the  Begum's 
proposal  was  a  hearty  acquiescence,  which  helped 
to  strengthen  her  in  her  reliance  on  the  fidelity  of  her 
new  servant. 

"  Very  well,  then,  Fraser  Sahib"  said  she.  "  I  will 
therefore  give  you  a  letter  to  Salabat  Khan,  recom- 
mending him  to  give  you  service,  and  telling  him  that 
you  are  entirely  in  my  confidence.  You  in  your  turn 
must  serve  my  interest  there,  and  contrive  to  keep  me 
informed  of  the  Afghan  plans  for  the  reconquest  of 
Upper  India.  You  must  also  explain  that  they  must 
take  good  care  to  avoid  coming  into  contest  with 
the  English,  against  whom  even  their  might  will  fail. 
That  they  must  fully  realize  that,  and  that  I  and 
many  of  us  here  have  made  allies  with  the  Company, 
and  will  on  no  account  quarrel  with  them.  I  shall 
march  my  campo  towards  Meerut  to-morrow,  and 
you  should  march  off  north  at  the  same  time,  but  tell 
no  one  where  you  are  going.  I  will  also  give  you 
a  note  on  the  bankers  in  Lahore  or  Sialkote  for  five 
hundred  rupees,  and  another  on  Srinagar  for  a  thousand. 
It  is,  of  course,  by  serving  Salabat  Khan  that  you  will 
be  able  to  support  your  horse,  and  I  hope  he  will 
order  you  to  raise  him  a  whole  rissalah.  You  maybe 
sure  that  if  ever  I  can  serve  you  I  will,  but  I  cannot 
engage  you  here.  You  don't  suppose  that  Daoud 
Shah  will  forgive  you  for  intervening  to-day.  And 
Daoud  Shah,  villain  though  I  know  him  to  be,  is  too 
useful  to  me  to  dismiss  at  present.  It  will  be  best 


SHATKANJ-BAZI  17 

for  you  to  tell  him  that  my  terms  to  you  have  not  been 
inviting  enough  for  you  to  accept." 

When  Frascr  had  expressed  his  complete  under- 
standing of  what  was  required  of  him,  the  Begum 
continued — 

"  Well,  now  that  that  is  settled,  tell  me  of  your 
own  life  and  your  father  the  clever  Fraser  Sahib,  who 
came  to  see  my  gun  park,  many  years  ago." 

And  the  lad,  seeing  that  he  had  apparently  made  a 
friend,  told  her  so  much  as  would  interest  her  and 
that  she  might  safely  know,  and  after  some  conversa- 
tion the  Begum  bade  him  leave  her,  lest  too  long  an 
interview  should  excite  comment  and  jealousy  in 
camp. 

"  Before  you  go,  Sahib,  you  shall  kiss  my  hand,  as 
they  tell  me  the  English  Sahibs  do  to  great  English 
ladies,  so  strange  are  your  Feringhi  customs." 

And  David  did  as  he  was  bid,  and  a  plump,  small 
hand  it  was,  scented  with  sandal  wood  and  the  nails 
dyed  in  henna,  for  the  Begum,  elderly  though  she 
was,  had  preserved  more  of  the  comeliness  of  youth 
than  usual  in  the  East.  A  comely  amiable  soul  he 
thought,  good  to  serve  probably,  and  perhaps  not 
strong  enough  to  hold  her  own  in  a  distracted  country 
in  which  the  hand  must  keep  the  head.  But  there 
was  little  enough  of  weakness  in  all  she  had  said  to 
him  ho  was  feign  to  confess  to  himself  as  he  strolled 
away  from  her  tent.  Some  of  the  stories  in  the  country- 
side that  were  told  of  her,  argued  little  of  feminine 
weakness,  such  as  the  plump  hand  in  itself  might 
indicate.  There  was,  for  instance,  that  story  of  the 
erring  handmaid  buried  alive  beneath  her  mistress's 
bed  as  a  punishment  and  a  warning.  .  .  But  then 
once  again  who  sups  with  the  devil  needs  a  long  spoon, 
and  campos  and  Indian  states  are  none  so  easy  to 
manage.  So  reflecting,  David  drew  near  to  his  own 

c 


IS  A  FREELLXCE  EJ 


tent  there-  only  to  get  into  more  comfortable  clothing 
and  giro  orders  for  the  much. 

Bat  the  morrow's  much  needed  fitfle  preparation- 
iHi  vid*s  small  body  of  bane  were  used  to  the  road, 
and  the  Hone  pony  cute  that  accompanied  him  carried 
aH  the  baggage  with  spaee  to  spare.    A  few  words  to 
"_r  Lj,~:~r  -i.;.;.;".:.:".  ~!i:   inirr  Lin   '•"  ......  .'.~  :---"'   "!ir 

earahy  troop,  wonld  he  all  thai  was  required.    HUB 
troop  of  horsemen  that  fallowed  the  vffl  of  David 

W  ejipyfn  hy  ImmBBlff-     At  their 


head  was  old  Gawafaa  Sin^i,  a  Bajpvt  of  Oodh,  who 
had  seredwiih  h»  fatter  in  the  vttiDery,  and  led  half 
adjooenmenofhsowndan.  Bajpnts  of  the  Agmcnki 
or  Kre  dans  woe  ttey,  as  distinct  from  the  Bajpnft 
races  of  U«  Sm  and  Moon,  fiercely  proud  of  nee, 
afl  the  more  so,  perhaps,  that  the  genuine  Bajpot 
dEBBMii  of  the  fee  nces  IB  a  matter  of  dgpote  among 
pradito,  willing  and  eager  to  fiaflow  a  leader,  amenable 
to  ojOBEBonflw  tMyn  iM^sim^m5^^  and 


the  right  leaven  for  a  young  leader  of  horse  to  temper 
troop  of  Sduuuturilfn.  Next  to  Ganesfaa 
Sjhal  Sin^i  the  Dmffrtar,  a  Bajpnt  of  the 
the  Dogra  hflk.  Ihe  rest  consisted  of 
half  a  dooen  Asians,  two  firom  the  Afghan  bills,  the 
rest  aettkd  in  BohDamd  for  two  generations,  two 
l^ii'rif'TiirTir  from  the  Punjab,  also  of  a  Bajpnt 

CBUV  ^VuflHOl     Bft  IDBGHTCu  Ot  xSsUO  OsBu  IDCflBQfiQ.  "^ft  AW0 

gEasp  bj  force  of  arms.    This  had  been  the  fate  of  all 
the  northern  dans  except  those  whom  the  TaOejs 

j    w       M«  m    —f    g^       TT»T*       _  t»_         * j.    _ a_  _wj_ ••          np 

mtt  DnunHB  W  UK  •""••• — rj^a  D3U1  HKUCnXU      A  WO 

Maraifaas  from  the  Deccan  and  three  Mogul  hds 
from  near  Delhi,  eonmleted  the  major  portion  of  this 
troop  of  twenty  soknas  of  fortune.  Among  the  six: 
Afghans  was  old  Gvl  Jan  the  Dnamn,  who  had  been 
bis  mother's  henchman  and  frip  lather's  orderly,,  and 
yomg  DftTid  as  a  dnld  and  taught  him  to 


6HATRAXJ-BAZI  19 

ride  and  use  the  swoid.  Graded  and  hard  bitten, 
his  dose  cropped  beard  died  red  in  imitation  of 
the  traditional  red  beard  of  the  prophet,  there  was 
a  jaunty  air  abort  the  angfeof  tic  coded  heacVdroB, 
and  in  the  lih  of  his  moant«n£«r  gait,  that  spoke  of 
plenty  of  resource  and  dating  left  in  the  old  frame 

Many  a  delightful  tale  of  rapine  and  of  war  had 
Gal  Jan  told  David  in  tits  youth,  and  the  old  man 
worshipped  the  kd.  Of  all  the  erf  tales  that  an 
Afghan  fife  could  boast  of,  the  one  that  had  best; 
pleased  the  young  highland*-!-,  lor  h^il»«d  he  was 
on  both  aides,  had  been  one  of  Gal  Jan's  boyhood- 
Two  vfflagw  had  long  been  at  fend,  and  once  Gal  Jan 
and  half  a  dozen  ••eliiiMi  of  one  Tillage,  bad  imagfrt 
a  child  of  the  other  village  alone,  and  had  then  and 
there  stzBtehed  Mi  little  viand  and  stit  it  with  a  pen 
knife  or  some  kindred  and  inmiirirnt  wnapun.  It 
was  jut  that  sort  of  tale,  that  wovld  go  cbvght  to 
a  boy's  heart,  and  for  its  sake  as  iiawli  as  his  general 
faithful  service,  the  David  held  the  old  redbeard  TCTJ 
dear.  He  called  to  the  old  man  to  come  f**^  h"B  gdfc 
ready  to  sup  with  his  mnrnnlnr,  Daond  Shah,  tin 
Sipofeofer*  of  the  Begum's  compo,  and  ace 


him  to  the  fetter's  tent.  A  loose  white  frock,  orer  his 
breeches,  boots  and  belt  wfth  petal  holster,  and  a 
Kaahrnir  embroidered  loungi  on  IBS  head  completed 
David's  evening  attire,  and  with  Gal  Jan  swaggering 
behind  him  he  strolled  over  to  the  Afghan's  tent,  to 
be  received  with  *tmeaAa*MH  show  of  fifflffnmny. 
As  the  ways  of  a  camp  are  simple,  the  two  soldiers 
sat  themaehru  down  to  the  evening  meal  forthwith, 
to  Jb^^"«  and  ewds  and  cinnamon  stew  and  the  best 
of  unleavened  duypattis.  Bound  the  length  and 
breadth  of  Hindustan  the  eanrersatian  wandered,  and 


20  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

David  told  his  host  enough  of  his  history  to  explain 
how  he  fought  for  his  own  hand,  and  carried  not 
King  George's  commission.  They  talked  of  soldiers 
and  of  cannon,  of  border  forays  and  rival  kings,  and 
now  and  again  the  Afghan  would  vouchsafe  such 
glimpse  of  a  chequered  life  as  made  the  other's  blood 
run  cold  in  his  veins.  Daoud  Shah  would  hint  of 
having  come  down  the  Gomal  with  Timur  the  lame 
Tartar,  founder  of  the  Mogul  Line,  and  seemed  con- 
versant with  sacks  of  Delhi  far  earlier  in  the  ages, 
and  of  all  the  evil  the  world  had  ever  known.  The 
Greeks  in  then-  Central  Asian  kingdoms,  and  the  life 
history  of  Balk  and  Samarkand,  and  how  the  tribe 
of  Gad  and  a  half  of  Manasseh  had  come  to  settle 
near  the  latter  city.  A  great  traveller,  a  great  historian, 
or  a  great  romancer  certainly,  and  as  David  sat  silent 
listening  to  the  snatches  of  the  other's  experience, 
and  looked  into  the  deep- knit  brow,  and  deep-set 
eyes,  with  the  clear-cut,  hawked  nose  and  sharp  chin, 
a  feeling  almost  of  terror  and  certainly  of  aversion 
seized  him.  Here  was  a  man  to  whom  half  the  horrors 
of  the  world  seemed  familiar  with  none  of  the  ruth 
that  horrors  should  stir.  Then  with  the  meal  ended, 
and  the  Jiuqa  finished,  they  sat  themselves  down 
almost  instinctively  to  play  at  Shatranj-bazi  or  chess, 
on  a  board  laid  out  on  a  low  lacquered  stool. 
Chess  has  come  to  us  from  the  East,  like  the  horse 
and  the  rose  and  many  another  wonder,  and  the  great 
marvel  of  all,  the  Christian  Eevelation,  and  though 
David  had  learnt  the  game  as  a  European  from  his 
father,  he  knew  something  of  the  Persian  variations. 
True  to  the  Asiatic  conception  of  women,  the  English 
queen  is  there  called  the  Wazir,  or  minister,  which 
fairly  explains  the  subordinate  character  of  the  king. 
A  king  in  the  hands  of  his  minister  is  a  well-known 
Eastern  phenomenon.  Our  bishop,  in  the  East  is 


SHATKANJ-BAZI  21 

the  ambassador,  with  the  power  of  diagonal  move, 
and  significantly  so,  since  never  could  an  Eastern 
ambassador  move  straight  forward  to  save  his  life, 
which  is  just  why,  now  and  again,  the  simple  English 
succeed  in  diplomacy  where  the  Eastern  fails.  Among 
the  chessmen  our  castle  alone  retains  its  Persian 
name.  Rult  is  Persian  for  a  tower,  and  to  this  day 
in  England  men  call  the  castle  the  rook. 

For  two  hours  the  pair  played  in  silence,  the  Afghan 
gazing  now  and  again  up  from  his  board  and  under 
his  eyebrows  at  the  eager  set  face  of  David  Fraser, 
his  namesake.  David  and  Dawad  or  Daoud  are  the 
same.  At  last  David's  King  had  rest  from  his  labours. 
His  hour  had  come.  "  Pharoah  is  dead,"  called 
Daoud  with  the  low  hiss  of  a  serpent  in  his  words. 
"  Mate  it  is  right  enough,"  admitted  namesake  David, 
"  but  why  is  Pharoah  dead  ?  " 

"  Pshaw  !  "  returned  the  other, "  What  matters  an 
expression.  In  Egypt  this  was  the  royal  game.  Who 
kills  Pharoah  or  encompasses  his  death  wins  the  throne." 

"  Where  is  it  that  this  man  has  not  been,"  thought 
the  younger  man.  "  But  there  are  no  Pharoahs  now." 
And  he  lent  back  on  his  cushions  and  looked  up  into 
his  late  opponent's  face.  Then  he  looked  again. 
What  fascination  in  those  grey-green  eyes !  What 
was  the  man  staring  for  ?  And  the  Afghan  moved, 
and  David  looked  again.  Involuntarily  he  made  a 
gesture  in  return.  Then  the  Afghan  lent  forward 
and  looked  him  straight  in  the  face  again  and  said — 

"  Have  you  seen  the  letters  of  the  lost  word 
re- arranged  ?  " 

David  started.  Old  Major  Fraser  had  belonged  to 
the  first  Masonic  Lodge  in  India  that  had  been  started 
at  Vellore  in  early  days.  He  had  been  master  and 
sat  in  the  chair  of  Eoyal  Solomon  of  a  lodge  in  Upper 
India,  and  had  initiated  his  son  David  full  young.  In 


22  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

the  lad  the  ancient  rites  had  struck  some  chord  in 
the  Jewish  strain  that  came  through  his  mother  from 
the  Afghans  of  Ghor.  David  had  been  eager  to  Bee 
more  of  the  mysteries,  and  his  father  had  enlightened 
him.  Therefore,  when  he  suddenly  found  this  Afghan 
asking  him  searching  questions  concerning  the  word 
that  the  High  Priest  of  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem  alone 
dare  say,  his  earlier  experiences  came  back  clearly, 
and  he  marvelled,  aye,  and  feared  somewhat.  With 
those  searching  eyes  fixed  on  him  some  answer  seemed 
needed. 

"  I  have,"  said  David. 

"  Will  you  prove  it  to  me." 

"  I  will  not,"  said  the  younger  man.  "  How  do  I 
know  that  you  know  ?  " 

"  Pish,  lad  !  How  do  I  know  ?  Why,  boy,  I  saw 
the  Romans  enter  the  city,  I  saw  the  streets  run  red 
with  blood,  and  I  saw  the  starving  mothers  devouring 
their  own  children." 

David  watched  him  now  in  amazement. 

"  So  that  is  one  of  the  reasons  why  I  know  how  the 
letters  should  be  arranged.  See  that  you  never  forget, 
nor  how  the  High  Priest  does  it."  And  a  change 
came  over  his  face,  and  the  tense  look  left  it.  "Ah, 
well,  Ferassa  Sahib,  it  has  been  a  great  pleasure  to 
entertain  you.  Pharoah  is  dead  and  turned  to  dust, 
so  have  a  sharbat  to  drink  and  let  us  rest." 

So  David  took  his  leave,  relieved  to  be  out  of 
sight  of  those  piercing  eyes,  and  their  horrible  glimpses 
of  worlds  dead  and  gone.  At  any  rate,  his  connection 
with  Judah  dated  from  a  period  long  before  the  Romans 
took  Jerusalem.  That  his  father  had  often  told  him. 
Who  and  what  was  this  hawk-nosed  stranger,  who 
knew  the  signs  of  the  inner  temples  and  whose  eyes 
had  all  the  visions  of  a  thousand  years  and  more 
within  them?  Thus  puzzling  David  took  a  final 


SHATEANJ-BAZI  23 

look  at  his  horse  lines,  spoke  to  his  camp  sentry,  and 
laid  himself  down  to  sleep  and  dream  of  all  that  had 
befallen  that  day.  And  ever  through  his  dreams  rode 
the  figure  of  Daoud  Shah  dressed  as  a  prince  and  a 
ruler  in  Israel,  devouring  children  spitted  on  skewers, 
and  before  him  marched  the  chessmen  calling, 
"  Pharoah  is  dead  !  Pharoah  is  dead  ! '! 


CHAPTER  III 


THE  next  morning  in  accordance  with  the  suggestions 
received  from  the  Begum,  David  paraded  his  little 
troop  as  if  it  was  to  march  off  with  Her  Highness's 
campo.  And  a  very  wonderful  thing  to  the  military 
eye  that  campo  was.  To  David,  with  his  knowledge 
of  the  native  states  and  their  armies,  the  sight  was  not 
now,  though  it  contrasted  strongly  with  what  he  also 
knew  of  the  orderly  departure  of  the  Honourable 
Company's  troops  from  one  of  their  camping  grounds. 
Long  before  daylight,  the  camp  was  given  up  to  turmoil 
and  hubbub.  The  groaning  and  bubbling  of  angry 
camels,  the  screams  of  righting  stallions,  and  the 
chattering  of  camp  followers  mingled  with  the  hammer- 
ing to  loosen  tent-pegs,  and  the  jingle  of  harness  and 
saddle  gear.  The  uneaten  remnant  of  fodder  and 
bedding  had  been  thrown  on  the  camp-fires  which 
blazed  to  warm  the  chilly  orientals  who  crouched  round 
them,  and  to  flicker  on  the  spear-points  and  harness- 
ments.  In  the  gloom  of  the  smoke  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  glare,  the  huge  forms  of  the  elephants  weaved 
uneasily  from  forefoot  to  forefoot,  as  the  mahouts 
buckled  on  the  heavy  gun-harness  and  the  riding 
howdahs.  It  was  a  weird  and  ghostly  scene  of  strange 
sights  and  noises,  till  as  the  sun  rose  through  the  smoke 
and  the  trampled  dust,  something  emerged  from  the 

24 


THE   NOETH  EOAD  25 

chaldron.  Drums  beat  and  trumpets  blared,  and  a 
battalion  of  Her  Highness' s  musketeers  endeavoured  to 
lead  the  procession,  their  muskets  in  green  cloth  bags, 
sloped  over  their  shoulders.  This  corps  actually  moved 
in  fours,  "  Eompant  par  sections,  droit  en  tete"  as  the 
old  Lille  drill  book  had  it  from  which  the  Chevalier, 
their  last  instructor,  had  drilled  them.  The  said  drill 
book  annotated  in  Persian  lay  wrapped  in  the  Kom- 
madari's  breast  pocket,  for  his  writer  to  read  for  him 
if  any  one  wished  to  argue  a  point  of  drill,  or  did  he 
wish  to  embark  on  so  important  a  manoeuvre  as 
ordering  that  the  section  "  Ligne  mi  kunand"  * 

The  ordered  tramp  of  the  drilled  musketeers  was 
mingled  with  the  rattle  and  cries  of  a  group  of  gossipping 
matchlockmen  who  hurried  along  on  their  outer  flank, 
and  then  a  string  of  camels  went  away,  followed  by  the 
elephants  and  two  galloper  guns  horsed  after  the 
manner  of  the  English,  save  that  the  traces  were  old 
frayed  rope.  That,  as  David  reflected,  would  not  be 
seen  in  John  Company's  artillery  !  He  and  his  own 
troop  carefully  accoutred,  had  mounted  and  formed  up 
in  line  to  watch  the  campo.  At  his  side  sat  Ganesha 
Singh,  criticizing  with  humorous  invective  the  in- 
congruity of  the  equipages.  Gul  Jan,  the  Company's 
veteran  artilleryman,  sat  behind  and  echoed  them  even 
more  forcibly. 

"  Tut !  tut !  "  said  Ganesha  Singh.  "  Did  ever  you 
see  such  a  horse  as  yon  ressaldar  is  riding  ?  Black  with 
pink  spots,  I  do  declare,  your  honour  !  and  he  holding 
on  with  both  hands." 

"  That's  the  Bakshi,  Ganesha  Singh,  who  came  in 
yesterday  with  the  pay.  See  !  the  pink  spots  are 
handmarks  made  with  pink  paint ;  see  the  finger-tips, 
that  is  to  keep  devils  away  at  night.  Look  at  his 

*  French-Persian  =  "  were  forming  line." 


26 

embroidered  velvet  saddle,  the  old  rogue !  Here 
comes  the  Begum  Saliiba.  We  will  salute  her." 

David  called  his  troop  to  attention,  the  lances  being 
brought  to  the  carry  with  a  rattle  as  Hor  Higlmess's 
lacquered  carriage  drawn  by  trotting  bullocks  jingled 
past.  The  snap  of  the  lances  in  the  wrist  throngs  drew 
attention.  A  hand  half  drew  the  silk  curtains  and 
beckoned  to  the  young  soldier.  David  moved  to  her 
side  at  a  gallop,  pulled  his  handsome  Arab  up  on  his 
haunches  and  saluted.  The  Begum  Sahiba's  eyes  from 
behind  the  curtains  twinkled  approval. 

"  I  like  to  see  your  men  and  their  orderly  British 
ways.  I  shall  be  glad  indeed  some  day  to  have  you 
with  me,  to  teach  my  worthless  ones  law  and  order. 
Did  you  see  the  Chevalier's  regiment  of  musketeers  ?  " 

"  I  did,  your  Highness." 

"  What  did  you  think  of  them  ?  " 

"  It  was  so  dark  that  I  could  not  see  clearly,  but  they 
marched  well.  I  saw  the  guns  also.  Without  doubt 
a  fine  army." 

"  Well,  well !  We  shall  see.  Now,  farewell,  and 
wait  till  we  are  well  past,  then  wheel  away  north  in  the 
dust  and  take  my  message  to  the  Governor  of  Kashmir. 
Peace  be  with  you." 

"  And  with  you  too,  gracious  lady,"  responded 
David,  and  the  curtains  dropped  and  the  march  of  the 
campo  continued. 

Behind  Her  Highness  rode  a  dozen  troopers  of  the 
retinue  and  some  of  her  officers  of  state,  and  then 
another  troop  of  matchlockmen.  On  either  side  of  the 
line  of  march  began  to  stream  the  impedimenta,  more 
camels,  pack  bullocks,  and  donkeys,  women  and 
children  and  camp  followers,  Delilah  in  her  litter,  and 
the  like.  After  a  short  gap  followed  a  body  of  dis- 
ciplined horse,  and  at  their  head  rode  the  sardonic 
figure  of  Daoud  Shah,  the  Cornmander-m-Chief  of  the 


THE   NOETH  EOAD  27 

distinguished  army.  To  him  also  David  Fraser  the 
politic  accorded  a  military  salute,  the  lances  once  more 
springing  to  tho  carry  with  a  snap  of  the  thong. 
Whether  or  no  tho  Afghan  detected  the  snap  of  derision 
that  underlay  the  act  of  homage,  or  whether  he  was 
annoyed  at  tho  presence  of  so  alert  a  body,  it  is  certain 
that  a  very  vicious  gleam  of  the  keen  eyes  accompanied 
his  answering  salaam,  and  his  bearing  seemed  to  resent 
the  jaunty  cock  of  the  dragoon  helmet  which  David 
was  still  wearing — as  perhaps  the  wearer  meant  he 
should. 

"  That  man,"  remarked  Ganesha  Singh,  "  is  the  very 
worst  kind  of  devil,  and  has  the  very  greatest  enmity 
for  you,  Sahib." 

"  What  makes  you  think  that,  old  soldier  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think,  Sahib,  I  know.  I  am  certain.  Does 
any  man  love  the  stranger  who  rnaketh  him  look  a 
fool  ?  Did  ever  a  man  look  such  a  fool  as  he  ?  You 
cither  upset  some  design  of  his,  or  you  kept  his  soldiers 
in  order  when  he  himself  could  not.  Is  he  likely  to  love 
you,  Sahib  ?  Will  he  stand  with  the  Begum  Sahiba  as 
he  stood  before,  think  you  ?  Never,  till  the  dust 
return  whence  it  came  !  The  dogs  bark,  but  the  caravan 
passes.  The  Afghan  smiles  with  his  lips  and  wishes  you 
peace,  and  all  the  while  he  says,  '  God  smite  your  soul 
to  the  nethermost  hell ! '  " 

David  was  amused.  "  Well,  do  you  know,  old 
soldier,  I  have  been  thinking  very  much  the  same  thing 
as  you  have.  I  am  a  foolish  lad,  I  know ;  but,  perhaps, 
not  so  foolish  as  to  think  I  have  made  a  friend  of 
Daoud  Shah." 

"  Without  doubt  the  Presence  is  full  of  wisdom," 
replied  the  old  man,  with  no  hint  of  irony.  "  But  this 
particular  wisdom  must  always  be  uppermost  in  the 
mind.  That  man  will  go  out  of  his  way  to  work  evil. 
Besides,  he  is  well  known  to  be  possessed.  I  met  in 


28  A  FKEELANCE   IN  KASHMIR 

the  camp  a  man  of  my  own  cast  whom  I  had  known 
before.  He  says  that  this  devil  is  in  league  with  all 
the  evil  spirits  and  knows  everything  both  of  good  and 
evil,  and  can  call  up  the  spirits  of  folk  long  dead  and 
gone.  The  men  will  run  past  his  tent  at  night,  and 
will  never  take  him  a  message  in  the  dark." 

"  Ganesha  Singh,  you  are  a  great  baby  to  listen  to 
such  fairy  tales." 

"  Your  honour  is  my  father  and  my  mother.  I  do 
but  tell  what  others  tell  to  me.  But  I  am  old  and  I 
have  been  young,  but  never  did  I  see  a  man  with  a 
shaitan  *  showing  so  clearly  in  his  face." 

"  Well,  to  blazes  with  him,  as  Danny  Irvine  would 
have  said.  You  don't  remember  him,  do  you,  Ganesha 
Singh  ?  He  was  my  father's  orderly,  and — well,  never 
mind  !  We'll  be  off  on  the  north  road  now.  Here  is 
the  last  of  the  Begum's  fauj,  and  the  sun  is  getting  up 
in  the  heavens." 

So,  to  the  English  order  of  "  threes  right,"  Fraser 
moved  away  his  troop  to  the  north,  across  the  great 
cloud  of  red  dust  that  the  troops  and  their  baggage  had 
raised,  and  which  mingled  with  the  smoke  of  the  camp 
fires  heavy  in  the  morning  dew.  The  two  made  such 
a  canopy,  that  no  one  would  see  the  direction  of  Fraser's 
troop,  nor  that  they  had  not  marched  in  the  track  of 
Her  Highness's  force.  It  was  that  lady's  own  sugges- 
tion, so  that  Daoud  Shah  should  not  be  let  into  the 
secrets  of  the  young  Englishman's  move,  and  her 
simple  suggestion  was  like  to  be  effective.  Daoud 
Shah  had  evidently  thought  that  he  had  his  orders  from 
the  Begum,  and  would  fall  in  in  the  column  of  march. 

Once  clear  on  the  north  road,  exhilaration  rose  in  the 
lad.  'Tis  good  to  be  two-and-twenty  with  a  fine  troop 
of  light  dragoons  at  your  back  a-setting  out  to  seek 

*  Devil. 


THE   NOETH  ROAD  29 

your  fortune,  on  a  cool,  brisk  morning  in  an  Indian 
spring.  Eh,  sirs  !  To  hack  your  way  to  power  with 
your  own  sword  arm  and  your  own  resources  behind 
you,  what  finer  champagne  for  the  imagination.  Half 
the  troopers  were  lads,  too,  agog  to  have  their  day,  full 
of  confidence  in  the  lad  who  sat  at  their  head,  with  old 
Ganesha  Singh  at  the  helm  for  wisdom  in  the  evil  ways 
of  an  Eastern  world. 

A  few  miles  after  starting  the  road  broke  out  from 
scattered  fields  and  patches  of  scrab  jungle  to  a  fine 
flat  of  plain  covered  in  short  dry  grass  and  stone.  The 
opportunity  was  too  good  to  be  lost. 

"  Tell  those  two  ekkas  to  come  along  quietly,  Ganesha 
Singh,  with  Gul  Jan,  and  I  will  rattle  some  of  these  lad 
across  the  plain. 

"  Head  !  To  the  right,  wheel !  Threes  left !  Look 
to  your  centre  !  Can — ter  !  " 

And  away  went  the  happy  troop  over  the  plain,  till 
fhe  canter  stretched  to  a  gallop  and  the  gallop  to  a 
wild  screaming  charge  such  as  David  had  seen  the 
Bengal  Irregulars  make  in  the  old  cantonment  days. 
Then  the  troop  rallied  round  the  halted  figure  of  their 
leader,  and  the  young  Afghans  of  the  party  yelped 
delight. 

"  Steady  now,  steady  men  !  We  will  drill  till  Gul 
Jan  comes  up  with  the  ekkas" 

And  then  and  there  the  astonished  wayfarer  might 
have  seen  a  troop  of  cavalry  drilling  after  the  manner 
of  the  English.  And  so  drilling  and  training  his  men 
and  conditioning  his  horses  David  Fraser  marched  his 
small  party  ever  north,  halting  a  day  or  two  when  the 
camping  ground  was  quiet  and  agreeable,  beating  for 
wild  boar  when  opportunity  offered  and  meeting  with 
no  adventure  or  interference  for  several  days.  Once 
by  a  small  group  of  shrines  they  found  a  fanatic  woman 
with  a  naked  sword,  standing  athwart  an  old  causeway 


80  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

that  dated  from  the  days  of  good  Emperor  Akhbar, 
who  built  roads  and  bridges.  The  stream  it  spanned 
was  deep,  and  the  bridge  alone  offered  passage,  while 
at  the  end  the  infuriated  feminine  flourished  the  sword 
wildly.  A  trooper  who  advanced  on  her  to  bid  her 
make  way,  came  back  with  his  tail  between  his  manly 
legs,  and  a  bleeding  snick  on  his  horse's  nose.  The 
men  openly  said,  "  Kill  her,  and  be  done  with  it.  We 
can't  wait  here  all  day  for  that  old  piece  of  rag  and 
bone."  But  David  had  some  of  the  English  ruth. 
"  Nay,  we  will  not  slay  the  old  body.  Here,  Ganesha 
Singh,  cannot  you  cope  with  the  lady  ?  " 

Ganesha  Singh  grinned  behind  his  grizzled,  twisted 
beard.  And  he  rode  forward  half  over  the  causeway, 
but  the  lady  only  waved  her  sword  more  furiously. 
"  Very  well,"  said  the  old  Rajpoot.  "  Now,  listen  to 
me.  I  know  you  well.  Your  mother  was  the  very 
worst  sort  of  woman,  and  had  immoral  relations  with 
every  one,  even  sweepers.  You  have  been  the  mistress 
of  the  Evil  One  himself.  You  have  lent  yourself " 

But  the  woman  was  gone,  and  Ganesha  Singh,  with  a 
perfectly  solemn  face  took  his  stand  to  cover  the  further 
end  of  the  now  free  causeway  while  the  troop,  chuckling 
with  laughter,  filed  over. 

On  the  twelfth  day  the  party  arrived  close  to  the 
ancient  town  of  Sirhind,  which  means  the  head  of  all 
India,  and  here  Ganesha  Singh  met  a  relative  in  charge 
of  some  horsemen  of  the  local  chief  who  sent  an  in- 
vitation for  them  to  halt  in  a  garden  of  his,  outside  tho 
city.  This  David  was  glad  enough  to  do,  as  he  had 
now  heard  that  the  snow  was  late  on  the  passes,  and 
that  he  could  not  get  to  Kashmir  yet  awhile  save  by  the 
long  route  away  in  the  north.  For  ten  days  they 
rested  and  fed  their  horses  on  the  young  green  wheat 
till  their  coats  shone  again.  The  local  chief,  who  was 
a  Sikh,  received  the  visitor  courteously,  and  sent  him 


THE   NORTH  ROAD  81 

presents  of  fruit,  and  sweetmeats  for  his  men,  and 
David  found  that  state  better  controlled  than  any  he 
had  previously  had  doings  with.  One  day,  while 
halting,  he  was  surprised  to  see  a  British  force  pass 
through,  and  to  learn  it  was  part  of  General  Lake's 
army  chasing  back  some  Sikh  horse  to  their  own 
territory  north  of  the  River  Sutlej.  A  battery  of  native 
horse  artillery  was  with  the  column,  and  David  felt  that 
sick  longing  for  a  happy  life  now  past  that  most  men 
have  known  at  one  time  or  another.  The  well-fitted 
harness,  the  well-kept  horses,  the  trim,  disciplined 
gunners  and  the  hard-bit  British  officers  brought  back 
so  forcibly  his  childhood,  the  swinging  gun-buckets 
below  the  gun  axles  so  like  those  of  his  father's 
battery  moving  out  of  cantonments.  Often  had  he 
watched  those  same  gun-buckets  swing  when  he  had 
peeped  through  the  bars  of  his  father's  compound  gate. 
Now  and  again  he  had  been  allowed  to  come  out  and 
be  taken  up  on  a  limber,  to  sit  on  a  gunner's  knee,  and, 
joy  of  joys,  to  hold  on  to  guard  straps  and  feel  the 
jolting  limbers  as  the  teams  broke  into  a  trot.  Why, 
oh  why,  had  he  let  that  life  slip  from  him  ?  And  then 
came  the  memory  of  those  young  officers  who  had 
spoken  of  him  contemptuously  as  a  half-breed.  The 
blood  rushed  to  his  temples  at  the  mere  memory  of  it. 
Little  enough  of  a  half-breed  did  he  look,  if  half-breed 
be  synonymous  with  contempt  and  an  inferior  being,  as 
he  stood  under  the  garden  trees  to  watch  them  march 
by.  Tall  and  straight  and  clean  cut,  with  clean  high- 
land ancestry  behind  him  on  both  sides. 

However,  with  the  rush  of  blood  to  his  temples  he 
remembered  that  he  was  off  to  seek  his  fortune  and 
come  back  as  good  a  man  as  any  of  them.  Then  he 
felt  that  he  would  have  liked  to  have  shown  his  own 
troop,  clean  and  fit  after  their  rest,  to  the  English 
officers,  but  the  men  were  all  dispersed  except  the 


82  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

camp  guard.  Then  again  for  the  moment  he  was 
chagrined  that  he  had  not  his  dragoon  helmet  on  and 
his  yellow  kurta  and  sword,  so  that  he  might  ride  out 
and  salute  them  as  a  soldier.  Then  he  laughed  at 
himself  for  a  vain  fool,  and  the  bitterness  passed  away. 
He  would  keep  away  till  he  had  a  name  and  fame  of  his 
own  and  then  go  among  them,  and  so  strolled  off  to 
see  his  own  troop  horses,  like  the  brave  sturdy  heart 
he  was. 

And  it  was  in  some  such  manner  that  the  journey 
north  continued,  without  misadventure  save  at  the 
boat  bridge  over  the  Ravi  by  Trimmoo  Ghat.  A  party 
of  Afghans  wanted  to  pick  a  quarrel  and  loot  his  baggage 
ekkas,  but  this  David  carried  off  with  a  high  hand, 
leaving  two  Afghans  dead  in  the  river  for  their  pains, 
with  no  worse  harm  to  his  own  lot  than  a  dead  horse 
and  a  sword  cut  in  old  Ganesha  Singh's  forearm,  happily 
not  his  bridle  arm.  So  on  they  went  past  the  maiden 
city  of  Sialkot,  only  staying  to  cash  the  Begum's  bill, 
and  over  the  Jammu  Tawi,  to  camp  under  the  walls  of 
Jammu  city  itself,  where  a  Dogra  boy  of  the  troop  had 
an  uncle  who  greeted  them  well.  At  Jammu  it  be- 
came necessary  to  sell  the  ekkas  and  buy  pack-ponies 
for  the  mountain  road.  Thence  on  again  the  road 
would  lie  till  they  came  to  the  great  river  Chenab 
rushing  out  of  its  mountain  gorges  by  the  ancient  city 
of  Akhnur,  and  here  they  were  getting  in  to  the  outer 
hills  that  lead  up  to  that  great  branch  of  the  Himalaya 
that  men  call  the  Pir  Panjal,  behind  which  lies  the 
Happy  Valley  of  Kashmir. 


CHAPTEE  IV 

THE    NIGHT    SKIRMISH 

IT  was  again  in  the  early  morning  that  David  and  his 
troopers  started  from  their  camp  under  the  high  loop- 
holed  walls  of  Jammu  city  and  struck  off  on  the  Akhnur 
road  and  the  Chenab  ferry  towards  the  principality  of 
Poonch.  The  crossing  of  the  Chenab  involved  some 
considerable  delay,  for  the  horses  and  mules  had  to  be 
coaxed  up  shaky  planks  over  the  high  sides  of  the  ferry 
boat,  and  then  swept  over  in  the  swift  current  to  the 
landing  ghat  below  the  black  walls  of  Akhnur  fort. 
Here  the  governor  and  commander  of  the  Dogra 
garrison  had  to  be  appeased,  the  Jammu  passport  duly 
vised  and  suitable  compliments  exchanged.  Finally, 
a  ragamuffin  guard  presented  arms  in  the  French  style, 
and  the  party  clattered  out  along  the  cobbled  highways 
of  the  town  towards  the  sandstone  ridges  and  stunted 
pines  of  the  outer  hills. 

Three  days  of  unadventurous  travel  brought  them 
to  the  old  Imperial  road  at  Bampur  Rajaori,  which 
runs  from  Delhi  via  Lahore  and  Gujerat  over  the  great 
snowy  Pir  Panjal  mountains  to  the  Valley  of  Kashmir. 
By  this  road,  summer  after  summer,  year  in  year  out, 
the  great  Mogul  emperors  had  moved  with  their 
women,  their  elephants,  their  horse,  their  foot,  and  their 
artillery,  to  escape  in  Kashmir  from  the  devastating 
heat  of  the  plains  of  Hindostan,  The  great  road  had 

33  D 


31 

crumbled  to  decay  as  the  Mogul  Empire  shrivelled,  for 
there  were  none  to  exercise  authority  to  impress  the 
labour  that  could  keep  it  in  repair.  For  many  a  stage 
over  the  mountains  ran  the  Imperial  road,  cobbled  and 
graded,  past  oak  and  pine  to  juniper,  the  silver  birch, 
the  snow  and  the  glacier.  At  every  stage  a  serai  or 
resthouse,  stood  crumbling.  At  any  beautiful  spot 
the  serai  had  expanded  to  a  garden  with  fountains  and 
rippling  waterfalls,  with  Moorish  summer  houses,  now 
the  sport  of  the  casual  traveller,  Grey  stone  towers, 
deserted  except  by  some  occasional  highland  cateran, 
stood  commanding  the  defiles  so  that  none  should 
harry  the  imperial  travellers,  hurrying  from  the 
beautiful  canals  and  fountains  of  the  Shalimar  Gardens 
in  Lahore,  to  the  still  more  beautiful  Shalimar  under  the 
mountains  on  the  shores  of  a  Kashmir  lake. 

To  the  Mogul  serai  at  Eampur  Eajaori  headed  the 
small  cavalcade,  to  bivouac  in  the  overgrown  orange 
groves  that  surrounded  the  fountains  of  the  serai, 
and  to  stall  their  horses  where  the  moving  court  of 
emperors  had  been  pitched.  Below  the  garden  which 
overhung  the  river  Tawi  stood  the  town  of  Eajaori, 
bright  with  Hindu  temple  spires  and  full  of  traders 
sending  and  receiving  the  mule  caravans  from  Kashmir. 
In  due  course  the  headman  of  the  town  had  arrived;  to 
see  who  the  strangers  were,  it  being  his  duty  to  protect 
the  interests  of  the  town.  True,  it  was  hardly  meet 
that  he  should  have  gone  himself,  a  bailiff  would  have 
clone  as  well,  but  parties  of  horse  are  apt  to  be  high- 
handed, and  it  would  be  well  to  see  what  they  wanted, 
lest  they  started  frolicking  in  the  bazaars,  or  bullying 
the  town  guard.  Should  the  arrivals  appear  in- 
significant they  could  be  bounced,  and  if  powerful  they 
could  be  grovelled  to.  Such  is  the  morality  of  the 
East  or  perhaps  of  the  world,  To  enable  him  to 
grovel  suitably  if  need  be;  the  headman  of  Eajaori 


THE  NIGHT  SKIRMISH  35 

•would  carry  in  his  pocket  two  golden  ashrafi,  or  Mogul 
guineas,  to  be  tendered  by  way  of  tribute  should  the 
arrival  seem  sufficiently  powerful  to  warrant  such  an 
attention.  The  tendering  of  this  tribute  or  nazar,  to 
give  it  its  Persian  name,  was  merely  an  act  of  courtesy 
or  fealty,  and  the  recipient  in  the  custom  of  the  day 
would  touch  and  remit  the  tendered  tribute.  Now  and 
again,  some  grasping  overlord  might  unexpectedly 
pocket  the  coins  and  leave  the  donor  gasping  in  surprise 
and  dismay,  but  that  would  be  unusual. 

So  the  headman  mounted  his  pony  and  rode  to  the 
serai,  with  two  running  footmen  carrying  guns  in  front; 
and  a  bailiff  with  inkpot  behind,  and  two  gold  coins 
in  case  of  need  in  his  pocket.  As  he  approached  the 
serai  the  small  number  of  horses  tethered  down  showed 
that  the  arrival  was  not  of  much  importance,  but  the 
sight  of  David  Fraser's  tall  figure  and  commanding  air 
sent  his  hand  instinctively  to  his  pocket.  The  gold 
coins  automatically  appeared  and  were  duly  touched 
and  remitted,  and  the  headman  conducted  to  a  seat 
After  the  usual  compliments  David  imparted  such 
account  of  his  own  object  and  destination  as  he  deemed 
sufficient,  and  then  endeavoured  to  elicit  such  local 
news  as  might  guide  him. 

The  village  headman  who,  as  a  guardian  of  peaceful 
traders,  had  little  but  guile  to  trust  to  against  the 
"  better  plan  "  of  his  masterful  neighbours,  answered 
with  equal  circumspection.  The  Rajpoot  Lord  of 
Poonch  gave  Rajaori  such  protection  as  he  could,  for  a 
suitable  consideration,  but  this  practically  only  held 
good  against  the  local  lairds  who  owned  towers  and 
fortified  strongholds  in  the  neighbourhood.  When  a 
body  of  Afghan  horse,  or  other  freelances,  came  along 
the  local  overlords  were  apt  to  be  engaged  elsewhere, 
besides,  Poonch  lay  over  the  Rattan  Pir,  twenty  miles 
away,  So  as  David  Fraser  only  desired  to  be  let  alone 


36 

and  get  the  supplies  he  wanted,  and  as  the  baillie  but 
wished  for  peace,  they  at  last  got  on  to  talking  terms. 

Said  Baillie  Anand  Earn,  headman  of  Rampur 
Bajaori — 

"  Your  honour  is  doubtless  going  over  the  Pir  to 
Kashmir  by  the  '  snowy  road  '  ?  " 

To  which  David  replied,  "  Well,  I  am  not  sure,  I 
had  thought  of  going  to  Poonch,  they  tell  me  that  the 
Pir  is  blocked." 

"  No,"  said  the  baillie,  "  the  road  is  open.  A  party 
of  Afghans  is  at  Thanna  Mandi,  and  they  are  said  to 
have  crossed  yesterday." 

"  Ah,"  said  David,  "  you  will  no  doubt  see  them 
here." 

"God  forbid!  What  should  I  do  with  them? 
Besides,  this  is  a  Sikh  country,  and  unless  they  be 
strong  there  are  many  here  who  wish  them  ill.  The 
Rajah  of  Sialsi  has  a  death  feud  with  every  Afghan, 
ever  since  the  commandant  of  Banihal  burnt  his 
brother  alive  in  his  tower." 

This  matter  of  the  arrival  of  the  Afghans  from  Kash- 
mir was  the  only  item  of  news  of  any  value  that  Anand 
Bam  could  purvey,  and  so,  after  gracious  adieus,  and 
pronouncing  himself  true  friend,  with  promise  of  all 
supplies  that  Eraser  could  require,  he  ambled  off  as 
oilily  as  he  came. 

That  evening  David  fished  with  such  success  in  the 
Tawi  below,  that  he  stayed  late  to  fish  next  morning, 
and  it  was  high  noon  before  he  started  on  the  next 
stage  to  Thanna  Mandi.  It  was  dusk  when  he  reached 
that  village,  and  camped  down  among  the  patches  of 
purple  iris,  on  the  hither  side,  and  sent  a  trooper  to 
inquire  if  the  Afghan  party  was  still  there.  Hardly 
had  the  man  returned  with  the  news  that  they  were 
in  the  traveller's  serai  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  off 
when  a  volley  of  musketry  sounded,  followed  by  shouts 


THE   NIGHT  SKIRMISH  37 

and  cries.  David's  men  at  once  saddled  their  horses 
and  seized  their  arms.  The  business  of  the  freelance 
is  to  keep  out  of  other  folk's  quarrels,  unless  expressly 
hired  to  engage  in  them,  and  it  was  no  man's  affair  in 
David's  party,  as  to  who  did,  or  did  not,  cut  each  other's 
throats  at  the  other  side  of  the  hamlet.  They  did 
therefore  the  only  wise  thing.  They  stood  by  to  see 
what  might  befall.  However,  before  many  minutes 
had  elapsed  women's  cries  were  added  to  the  hubbub, 
and  David,  who  had  the  European  rather  than  the 
Oriental  view  of  women,  bidding  Nihal  Singh  hold  the 
camp  and  the  horses  with  eight  men,  hurried  out  into 
the  darkness  with  the  remainder.  The  shots  and 
cries  came  from  the  old  serai,  and  now  and  again  a 
musket  flashed  in  the  darkness  from  the  shadow  of  the 
ruined  gateway.  Someone  was  evidently  holding  the 
place  and  giving  as  good  as  he  got.  As  David  and 
his  men  passed  the  last  hut  in  the  hamlet,  they  saw  a 
dozen  or  so  of  dark  shadows  rush  at  the  serai  wall,  and 
heard  more  shouts  on  the  opposite  side.  Reflecting 
that  the  folk  in  the  rest  house  were  in  some  sort  his 
kinsmen,  and  that  as  he  was  going  to  Kashmir  he 
might  well  ease  the  way  by  making  friends  there,  he 
rushed  with  a  cheer  on  to  the  men  attacking  the  serai. 
The  unexpected  attack  from  behind  settled  the  business, 
the  attackers  turned  and  fled,  with  a  volley  in  their 
backs  from  the  wall,  and  a  few  sword  cuts  from  David 
and  his  leading  men.  One  of  the  strangers  turned  and 
let  off  a  blunderbuss  into  Ganesha  Singh's  face,  knock- 
ing off  his  turban  and  dusting  his  left  ear,  and  the 
scrimmage  was  over. 

Collecting  his  men,  David  approached  the  serai 
cautiously. 

"  Who  are  you,  strangers  of  the  night  ?  "  called  a 
voice  from  the  gateway  in  Persian. 

"  A  friend,"  replied  David,  in  the  same  language.    "  A 


38  A  FKEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

party  of  travellers  making  for  Kashmir  with  messages 
for  the  governor,  who,  hearing  of  the  attack  on  you,  have 
come  to  your  aid." 

"  Khush  ameded  "  (welcome),  replied  the  voice.  "  It 
is  good.  We  have  been  attacked  by  that  son  of  a  burnt 
father,  the  Rajah  of  Sialsi — God  smite  his  soul  to  the 
nethermost  hell ! " 

"  I  am  coming  forward  alone  with  one  attendant," 
called  out  David,  stepping  forward. 

At  the  gate  a  form  stepped  out  and  took  David's 
hand  in  both  his,  after  the  manner  of  the  Afghans,  and 
half  a  dozen  men  crowded  round  him,  with  expressions 
of  welcome  and  gratitude.  The  spokesman,  evidently 
one  in  authority,  said  again;  "  Welcome  indeed,  young 
sir,  If  you  are  going  to  Kashmir  you  have  done  well, 
for  you  have  helped  no  less  a  person  than  His  Excellency 
Salabat  Khan,  the  Subahdar  of  Kashmir,  the  Wazir- 
Wizarat  of  the  Emperor  of  Kabul.  We  came  over 
yesterday  for  certain  business,  and  were  attacked  by 
these  swine." 

"  Oho  Yar  Khan;  oho  ! "  called  a  faint  voice  from 
within  the  yard.  "  Is  that  the  strange  chief  that  has 
aided  us  ?  Bid  him  bring  the  light  of  his  countenance 
here." 

Yar  Khan,  apologizing  to  David,  stepped  back  into 
the  darkness,  and  a  whispered  conversation  ensued, 
Yar  Khan  returned. 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  His  Excellency  has  been  severely 
wounded  by  those  men  without  faith,  and  would  speak 
with  you,  first  asking  your  name  and  business." 

"  My  name  is  Daoud  Ferassa  ;  but  who  I  am  and 
what  my  business  is  I  will  only  tell  His  Excellency  in 
private,  but  this  you  may  say,  that  I  have  with  me  a 
troop  of  cavalry,  and  have  come  intending  to  seek 
service  under  him." 

By  this  time  some  of  the  Afghans  had  set  light  to  a 


THE  NIGHT  SKIRMISH  89 

fire  of  grass  and  brushwood,  and  the  flickering  flames 
lit  up  the  interior  of  the  serai.  Glancing  round,  David 
saw  a  dozen  or  so  horses,  tethered,  one  lying  dead, 
while  three  bodies  were  being  laid  side  by  side,  and  two 
wounded  men  were  being  attended  to.  The  women's 
cries  were  accounted  for  too,  for  in  the  corner  by  an 
orange  grove  was  a  small  crimson  silk  raoti  (tent),  and; 
standing  beside  it,  two  women  clasping  each  other's 
arms,  and  muffled  in  veils.  Close  to  the  fire  lay, 
supported  by  two  attendants,  the  wounded  figure  of 
His  Excellency  the  W azir-W azarat,  a  handsome  fair- 
visaged  Afghan  noble,  with  reddish  cheeks  and  a 
close-trimmed  dark  beard,  not  at  all  unlike  David 
himself.  As  David  stepped  forward  into  the  light  and 
salaamed,  the  likeness  at  once  struck  the  bystanders, 
and  Yar  Khan  exclaimed  aloud  at  it.  Yar  Khan  was 
wazir  and  master  of  the  horse  to  the  governor,  and 
commander  of  the  escort,  a  grizzled  old  Duranni  soldier 
with  war  and  command  written  clear  on  his  visage.  As 
David  drew  near  to  the  fire,  the  two  women  advanced 
and  stood  in  the  shadow  of  a  tree  behind  the  governor. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  latter.  "  We  are  very  greatly 
beholden  to  you  for  your  timely  arrival  and  bold 
advance.  As  you  saw,  we  were  treacherously  attacked 
by  those  villains  of  Rajpoots,  and  were  in  some  danger; 
several  men  have  been  killed  and  these  ladies  were 
much  frightened.  They  are  my  sister  and  her  maids, 
and  she  has  just  come  from  my  uncle's  town  at  Sohan, 
and  we  cross  the  Pir  to-morrow," 

Here  Yar  Khan,  who  had  been  collecting  reports, said — 
"  Sher  Baz  Orakzai,  and  Kaim  Khan  Alisherzai,  and 
also  Abdul  Rafik  Duranni  are  dead,  and  those  two 
young  Afridis  are  wounded,  one  cannot  stand.  Here  is 
the  hakim  to  examine  your  Excellency's  wound. 

"  Tush,  Yar  Khan  !  it  is  nothing.  Let  every  one 
withdraw  twenty  yards  so  that  I  can  speak  with  this 


40 

nobleman  alone.  Yar  Khan;  you  may  remain — oh 
yes,  and  my  sister,  if  this  illustrious  stranger  does  not 
mind  women.  She  is  a  spoilt  Afghan  lass,  who  rides 
a  horse  and  does  what  she  pleases  and  is  afraid  of  no 
man;  and  not  like  your  tied-up  women  of  India." 

So  David  represented  himself  as  a  freelance  of 
Rohilla  birth,  and  Duranni  tribe,  concealing,  however, 
his  mother's  actual  clan,  and  explained  how  he  had  a 
letter  from  the  Begum  Somru  for  Salabat  Khan,  and 
how  he  wanted  service. 

"  Right  willingly  will  I  give  you  service,  sir,"  said 
Salabat  Khan.  "  And  proud  to  have  you  with  me. 
We  will  all  march  over  the  Pir  to-morrow,  for  I  have 
pressing  business,  and  must  be  back  in  my  capital.  In 
the  meantime  I  must  get  my  wound  seen  to,  and  we 
had  better  meet  again  at  an  hour  after  dawn.  But  let 
me  once  again  thank  you,  on  my  own  and  my  sisters' 
behalf." 

And  here  one  of  the  women  drew  herself  up  and 
bowed,  and  a  gentle  rhythm  of  bangles  disturbed  the 
silence,  and  a  shapely  hand  emerged  to  draw  the  veil, 
so  that  for  a  minute  a  pair  of  eyes  flashed  at  him  from 
under  the  muslin.  Then,  escorted  by  Yar  Khan  and 
some  of  the  Afghans,  who  were  fraternizing  with  the 
Mussalmans  of  his  own  party,  David  Fraser  marched 
back  to  his  bivouac,  with  a  feeling  that  all  was  well 
in  the  best  of  possible  worlds. 

Yar  Khan  treated  him  with  some  show  of  confidence, 
and  spoke  of  the  value  that  would  accrue  at  the 
present  juncture  in  Kashmir,  from  the  services  of  so 
well  equipped  a  troop  of  horse,  and  how  well  worth 
David's  while  it  would  be  to  serve  Salabat  Khan. 
That  noble,  he  explained,  was  powerful  and  popular, 
but  there  were  plenty  of  enemies  of  the  state,  and  of 
the  ruler,  and  plenty  of  service  and  reward  for  good 
soldiers. 


THE  NIGHT  SKIKMISH  41 

"  We,"  he  continued,  speaking  of  the  ruling  race, 
"  hold  the  Shergarhi  and  the  fort  of  Hari  Parbat,  and 
indeed,  the  whole  of  Kashmir,  while  in  the  Lolab 
valley  we  have  a  large  Afghan  colony  ;  but  there  are 
many  enemies.  The  Hindu  chiefs  here  in  this  Dun 
hate  us,  and  attack  us,  as  you  see,  when  we  are  weak. 
The  Chinese  in  the  mountains  north,  give  us  all  the 
trouble  they  can.  So  there  is  plenty  of  work  for  the 
soldier  with  the  ready  hand  that  you  have  shown. 
Join  us,  young  sir,  and  find  a  glorious  and  a  profitable 
service." 

From  all  of  which  David  gathered  or  thought  he 
gathered  two  things — first  that  Yar  Khan  had  taken 
a  liking  to  him,  and  second  that  Salabat  Khan  was 
none  too  secure  in  his  viceroyalty. 

After  parting  with  Yar  Khan  at  the  gate  of  the  serai, 
David  called  away  his  followers,  who  were  gossiping  with 
the  Afghan  guard,  and  returned  to  his  bivouac  to 
picket  his  horses  and  seek  well-earned  sleep.  Not  so 
the  troopers,  who,  after  their  wont,  piled  brushwood  on 
the  camp  fires  and  sat  to  discuss  the  day's  events  when 
sleep  would  have  served  them  better.  It  was  the  first 
skirmish  they  had  had  since  the  rissalah  had  been 
seeking  its  own  fortunes.  The  best  of  soldiers  will 
discuss  their  leaders  even  though  never  demurring  at 
any  commands.  As  a  man  is  no  hero  to  his  valet,  so 
a  leader  is  open  to  his  soldier's  criticisms.  Freelances 
are  less  trammelled  than  are  regular  soldiers,  and  their 
camp  talk  ranges  free. 

"  So,  Ganesha  Singh  jee,  we  are  to  take  service  with 
this  Afghan  ?  "  queried  one  of  the  Marathas.  Ganesha 
Singh  had  pulled  his  sword  from  his  waist  belt  and  his 
orderly  was  just  offering  him  a  pull  from  a  huqa  bowl, 
with  a  bit  of  cloth  at  the  end.  That  long-waited-for 
whiff  was  soothing.  Ganesha  Singh  let  the  accent  on 
the  word  Afghan  pass.  There  were  Afghan  troopers 


42  A  FKEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

in  the  party,  and  if  they  roused  it  would  be  time  to 
comment. 

"  The  Sahib  says  we  are  to  go  join  this  noble's  troops 
in  Kashmir,  There  will  be  fighting  always  on  the 
borders  and  good  pay  and  promotion." 

"Fortunate  enough  for  them  that  we  broke  in  just  now, 
Some  of  those  troopers  were  about  to  make  a  bolt." 

Gul  Jan  had  come  up  from  easing  his  master  of  his 
accoutrements,  and  had  caught  the  last  words. 

"  Young  man,  you  are  talking  as  usual  as  the  young 
crows  talk.  The  Durannis  of  that  escort  were  little 
likely  to  give  way  to  Hindus,  and  would  have  died  to 
a  man  in  the  serai." 

Ganesha  Singh  broke  in.  "  Never  mind  the  lad,  old 
man.  Sit  down  and  take  a  pull  at  the  huqa.  It  is  a 
good  beginning  to  service  that  we  should  have  helped 
our  new  masters.  Ferassa  Sahib  is  a  fine  leader,  as  you 
and  I  know,  and  it  is  good  that  those  who  have  lately 
joined  us  should  know  it,  Are  the  horses  all  tethered, 
Nihal  Singh  ?  " 

"  All  except  that  entire  second  charger  of  the  Sahib's. 
Not  the  Arab,  but  that  country  bred,  That  horse  will 
always  be  a  trouble;  and  will  surely  spoil  some  night 
enterprise.  Hark  to  him  squealing  now." 

"  Entires  are  like  men,  the  low  grade  ones  are  no  use 
to  a  soul.  Tell  the  line  sentry  to  hit  him  over  the  head. 
Has  the  Sahib  gone  to  sleep,  Gul  Jan  ?  " 

"  He  has,  Ressaldar  Sahib." 

"  Good  !  Then  we  can  talk  on  here,  but  I  shall  kick 
the  fire  out  in  quarter  of  an  hour.  Has  any  one  been 
in  these  hills  before  ?  " 

"  I  live  twenty  or  thirty  miles  south  of  this,"  said 
Nihal  Singh. 

"  And  I  have  been  into  Kashmir  in  the  late  governor's 
time,  before  Salabat  Khan  came  from  Kabul,"  said 
Gul  Jan, 


THE   NIGHT  SKIKMISH  43 

"  And  I  also,"  said  a  young  Mogul. 

"  Tell  us  what  it  is  like,  Mogul  Jee." 

"  Fine  place  in  the  summer,  Food  very  cheap,  lots 
of  fruit.  The  women  are  very  good  looking,  and  the 
Kashmiri  women  free-spoken ;  but  if  you  look  at  a 
pundit  woman  there  is  the  mischief  to  pay  !  " 

The  young  man  spoke  feelingly,  and  there  was  a  laugh. 

"  You  Muhammadans  are  always  interfering  with 
other  folk's  women  !  " 

Nihal  Singh  winked  across  to  another  Rajpoot,  and 
the  Hindus  chuckled. 

The  Mogul  lad  saw  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of  in  the 
assertion ;  every  one  knew  that  Zar  Zan  Zdmeen — gold, 
women,  land — were  at  the  bottom  of  all  the  trouble, 
and  most  of  the  interest  in  the  world,  at  any  rate  the 
interests  of  a  freelance  trooper, 

"  Anyway  there  will  be  lots  of  strong  spirits  brewed 
in  the  valley  from  the  apples;  that  will  just  suit  you 
wine-bibbing  Hindus." 

A  chorus  of  ironical  spirits  laughed  in  his  face;  every 
one  was  too  tired  to  quarrel,  and  wine  was  an  excellent 
thing  in  due  season.  If  Islam  chose  to  eschew  it,  why 
not !  The  line  sentry  broke  in. 

"  Two  of  the  horses  are  off  their  feed,  Jenab" 

The  good  discipline  of  the  English  habit  had  bitten 
into  this  small  troop.  Ganesha  Singh  got  up  and  kicked 
the  fire  out, 

"  To  sleep,  every  man,  lest  I  clout  him,  while  I  go 
see  the  sick  horses." 

The  old  soldier  and  the  sentry  went  down  the  lines,  and 
found  two  over-tired  horses  playing  with  their  feed-bags. 
"  They  are  only  tired.  Take  the  bags  away  for  an 
hour  and  give  them  their  grass.  Stay,  I  have  some 
vinegar.  Rub  their  nostrils  with  that  before  you  give 
them  grass.  They'll  take  their  feeds  later.  Call  me 
if  they  don't." 


CHAPTEE  V 


DAVID  was  astir  early;  bustling  his  troopers  to  clean 
their  horses  and  gear  and  make  a  good  turnout  before 
the  Afghans.  By  eight  in  the  morning  the  shadows  in 
the  galli  were  shortening,  and  the  sun's  rays  were 
climbing  over  the  snowy  peaks  of  the  Pir  Panjal  as  with 
an  ordered  clatter,  David's  compact  troop  wheeled  into 
line  outside  the  Afghan  camp.  Here,  though  the 
chief's  retinue  hung  around  dismounted  with  their 
horses  ready  and  saddled,  the  chief's  tent  still  stood  in 
the  serai  garden.  Under  the  trees  the  ladies'  cavalcade 
seemed  ready,  but  no  one  was  mounted.  Something 
appeared  wrong,  and  what  that  something  was  was 
soon  evident. 

Salabat  Khan's  wound  was  much  more  serious  than 
had  been  imagined  in  the  wipe  up  after  the  fray.  He 
had  passed  a  bad  night  and  was  quite  unfit  to  breast 
the  passes  of  the  Pir  Panjal.  As  David  rode  up  to 
make  his  salaam  Salabat  Khan  and  Yar  Khan  were  in 
close  conference  within  the  tent.  He  was  invited  to 
dismount  and  did  so,  and  entered  the  tent,  to  find  the 
wounded  chief  a  far  better -looking  man  than  he  had 
imagined  in  the  darkness  and  torchlight  of  the  night 
before.  A  well-born  Afghan,  a  cadet  of  a  Duranni  clan  of 
the  tribe  of  the  Ben-i- Israel  is  or  should  be  a  fine  figure 
of  a  man.  The  Afghans  proper  are  the  Durannis,  the 

44 


OVEE  THE  PIE  WITH  MIEIAM          45 

race  of  the  Pearl,  who  trace  their  descent  from  one 
Kish  or  Kais  eighteenth  in  descent  from  Saul.  Whether 
they  be  of  the  Children  of  Israel,  which  is  how  they  style 
themselves,  or  whether  as  some  think  they  be  of  Judah, 
and  from  which  of  the  captivities  they  date,  no  man 
can  tell.  Certain  it  is  that  there  were  traces  of  Dan  and 
half  of  Manasseh  to  be  found  within  comparatively 
recent  times  in  Central  Asia.  The  tomb  of  the  patriarch 
Lamech  is  claimed  as  one  of  the  Afghan  shrines.  David 
or  Daoud,  Jacob  Abraham,  Isaac,  Joseph  and  Jesus 
are  among  the  e very-day  names  of  the  Afghans.  How- 
ever, whether  or  no  the  Afghan  be  of  the  missing  tribes 
and  descendants  of  Eoyal  Solomon,  certain  it  is  that 
they  are  of  a  high-browed  aquiline  feature,  Jewish 
at  times  to  a  degree.  The  long,  oiled  locks  are  parted 
in  the  centre  and  combed  down  over  the  ears;  and  any 
dozen  scoundrels  from  a  border  village  might  sit  as 
models  for  a  picture  of  the  last  supper.  The  high-born 
Afghan  noble  especially  shows  the  Jewish  feature,  hard 
and  clear  cut  like  the  patriarchs  of  old.  Hard,  from  a 
life  in  a  hard,  fierce  country,  where  the  hand  alone 
keeps  the  head,  hard  in  its  climate  and  hard  in  its 
people.  Fair  of  skin  is  the  Afghan  compared  with  the 
people  of  Hindostan  and  all  are  by  no  means  dark- 
haired.  As  David  the  King  had  fair  red  hair,  so  you 
may  see  the  Afghan  of  the  Ben-i- Israel,  fair  of  beard 
and  hair,  with  ruddy  cheeks,  born  of  a  life  in  an 
upland  country.  In  the  East,  the  higher  you  climb 
the  fairer,  the  lower  you  go  the  darker. 

There  was  nothing  therefore  to  wonder  at  inSalabat 
Khan's  well-bred  features.  Lofty  of  forehead,  with  knit 
eyebrows  and  aquiline  nose  that  promised  to  age  to 
a  hawk's  beak,  blue  eyes  and  a  close-trimmed  reddish 
beard,  ho  might  well  be  of  the  house  of  Saul  or  David. 
In  fact,  he  had  a  considerable  likeness  to  David  Eraser, 
save  that  he  might  be  ten  or  fifteen  years  older.  A 


4G  A  EREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

man  to  rule,  no  doubt,  heavy  of  hand  if  need  be, 
ready  of  arm,  and  perhaps  a  soft  heart  on  occasion. 
A  fascinating  face,  too,  and  so  thought  the  young 
Anglo-Indian;  looking  straight  into  the  Afghan's  eyes, 
while  exchanging  the  ever-profuse  greetings  of  the 
East. 

"  Ferassa  Sahib,"  said  the  chief,  "  are  you  willing 
to  enter  my  service  ?  " 

"  That  is  my  desire;  sir,"  returned  David.  "  I 
have  with  me  too,  as  I  told  you  last  night,  a  letter 
for  your  Excellency  from  Her  Highness  the  Begum 
Somra." 

"It  is  well.  .  .  .  You  are  highly  spoken  of  herein. 
Are  you  ready  to  swear  fealty  to  me  on  the  Koran  ?  " 

"  I  am  ready  to  swear  fealty  to  you,  sir." 

"  Yar  Khan,"  said  the  chief,  "let  a  Koran  be 
brought." 

Here  David  felt  a  little  disconcerted.  To  swear 
allegiance  he  was  ready,  but  not  to  swear  by  the 
Crescent,  he  who  had  been  brought  up  by  the  Cross. 
Should  he  reveal  his  nationality  ?  So  far  he  had  passed 
muster,  not  only  in  his  language,  but  evidently  in  his 
bearing  and  ways,  as  an  Asiatic.  He  quickly  came  to 
a  decision.  His  men  knew,  and  would  be  sure  to 
divulge  it  as  a  matter  of  course,  even  if  he  could  hope 
to  disguise  it  himself.  He  knew  well  enough  that  it 
is  one  thing  to  speak  an  alien  language  fluently,  but 
quite  another  matter  to  act  the  right  part  by  instinct. 
It  is  one  thing  to  be  grammatical,  and  idiomatic, 
another  to  sit  as  an  Oriental  sits,  to  eat  as  he  eats,  to 
scratch  as  he  scratches  and  to  yawn  as  he  yawns. 
The  which  is  often  forgotten  by  travellers  to  their 
undoing.  His  decision  came  at  once. 

"  May  I  speak  to  your  Excellency  alone  ?  " 

And  Salabat  Khan  waved  away  Yar  Khan  and  the 
attendants. 


OVER  THE  PIE   WITH  MIRIAM          47 

"  I  will  swear  to  serve  you  and  yours,  Salabat  Khan 
Sahib,  not  by  the  Koran  and  the  Prophet,  but  by  the 
Hdzdrdt  Iswi,  for  I  arn  a  Frank  and  a  Christian." 

Then  Salabat  Khan,  after  eyeing  him  keenly;  said, 
"  Ferassa  Sahib,  of  the  Franks  I  myself  know  but  little 
enough,  but  all  men  speak  of  their  courage  and  truth. 
I  will  accept  your  oath  by  the  Hdzdrdt  Iswi,  on  whom 
be  peace  !  and  will  tell  you  now  what  I  require  of  you. 
Then,  when  time  is  of  lesser  import,  you  shall  tell  me 
who  and  what  you  are  and  why  you  left  the  service  of 
Company  Sahib  Bahadur." 

Now  Hdzdrdt  Iswi  (the  Prophet  Jesus)  is  deeply 
revered  in  Islam,  and  the  educated  Muhammedan  is 
ready  enough  to  recognize  the  solemnity  of  such  an 
oath.  The  Christian  is  not  an  infidel  in  the  eyes  of 
educated  Islam,  and  Christians  are  "  people  of  the 
book  "  to  be  respected  as  such.  That  Salabat  Khan 
should  unhesitatingly  accept  the  sanctity  of  the  in- 
vocation merely  proved  him  to  David  to  be  a  man  of 
understanding  and  culture,  to  whom  he  was  more  than 
ever  prepared  to  trust  his  fortune.  Then  the  Afghan 
began  again, 

"  Now,  Ferassa  Sahib,  you  are  my  servant;  listen; 
therefore,  to  my  trouble,  but  first  we  will  call  Yar 
Khan  " — which  done,  he  continued — "  Yar  Khan,  I 
am  now  telling  Daoud  Ferassa  here  who  has  accepted 
my  service,  of  the  state  of  affairs.  My  wound  of  last 
night  is  more  severe  than  I  thought.  I  cannot  ride  a 
horse,  and  my  hakim  *  forbids  even  that  I  ride  in  a  litter 
for  my  head  swims  and  my  eyes  burn.  Now,  it  is 
most  important  that  my  Wazir,  Yar  Khan;  should  be 
back  in  my  palace  of  the  Shergarhi  in  Srinagar  without 
delay  with  a  following  that  he  can  trust.  But  I  must 
have  an  escort  with  me.  I  shall  go  to  shelter  with 

*  Doctor. 


48  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Murad  All,  the  Chib  chief  beyond  Poonch,  whose  sister 
my  brother  has  married.  Yar  Khan  will  start  now 
with  you  and  your  troop  and  half  my  own  escort,  and 
my  sister  and  her  girls  must  go  with  you.  I  trust  her 
to  your  care,  Ferassa  Sahib,  and  I  know  how  the 
Franks  can  keep  their  faith  with  women.  On  reaching 
the  Shergarhi,  at  Srinagar,  you  will  at  once  occupy  the 
fort,  and  Yar  Khan  will  fully  explain  to  you  all  that 
is  necessary.  I  see  you  are  ready  and  so  is  my  sister 
Miriam  and  Yar  Khan's  men.  Start  at  once,  you  will 
find  the  pass  easier  before  the  snow  gets  soft  in  the 
sunlight.  Fare  thee  well,  I  rely  on  your  faith  and  your 
oath  on  the  Hdzdrdt  Iswi." 

Without  more  ado,  David  left  the  tent,  and  joined 
his  men,  and  a  few  minutes  later  Yar  Khan  came  out, 
called  to  all  his  party  to  mount,  and  came  over  to 
where  the  freelance  stood. 

"  Mount  your  men,  please,  Sahib"  said  the  Afghan, 
"  and  we  will  get  along.  My  men  will  lead  to  com- 
mence with.  See,  the  princess  is  mounted,  I  will 
start  off  the  kafila" 

By  the  time  David  had  ordered  his  men  to  mount, 
the  whole  party  were  on  the  move,  Miriam  and  her  two 
women  riding  between  the  Afghan  troopers  and  David's 
party.  In  this  order  they  rode  away  up  the  winding, 
broken  road  over  the  Rattan  Pir,  where  the  old  Moghul 
causeway  was  crumbling  to  decay,  and  only  served  to 
turn  the  rainwater  to  eat  down  into  the  present  path. 
Over  the  Pir  and  down  again  till  about  nine  of  the  clock 
they  came  to  the  ford  on  the  Poonch  river  that  must 
be  crossed  ere  the  ascent  of  the  Pir  Panjal  could  be 
commenced. 

At  the  ford  the  party  which  had  been  strung  out  on 
the  narrow  path  came  together  again,  and  David  was 
able  to  take  some  stock  of  the  troopers  of  Yar  Khan's 
party.  Well  mounted  on  Kabuli  and  Yarkandi  ponies, 


OVEE  THE  PIE   WITH  MIEIAM          49 

they  were  evidently  very  similar  men  to  the  few  Afghans 
among  his  own  troop,  possibly  clansmen  of  Salabat 
Khan  or  Yar  Khan,  possibly  mere  mercenaries  like 
himself.  They  certainly  looked  good  hard-bitten 
soldiers  such  as  his  military  eye  appreciated.  Of  the 
women  there  was  little  to  be  seen.  The  two  attendants 
rode  heavily  veiled,  while  even  Miriam  herself  was 
well  wrapped  in  a  muslin  hood  and  scarf,  and  it  was 
little  that  David  could  see  of  her,  or,  for  the  matter  of 
that,  wanted  to  see.  His  thoughts  were  rarely  con- 
cerned with  the  opposite  sex.  Not  so,  however,  the  lady 
herself.  She  was  now  very  well  aware  of  the  part  in 
last  night's  affray  that  the  stranger  and  his  men  had 
taken,  and  had  quite  realized  that  without  his  timely 
assistance  it  might  have  gone  hard  with  her  brother  and 
herself.  She  had  no  mind  to  be  led  away  to  a  Eajpoot 
fort,  and  that  no  doubt  would  have  been  her  fate  if  the 
attack  of  last  night  had  prevailed.  Also  the  feminine 
is  much  the  same  all  the  world  over,  and  Afghan  Miriam 
had  a  good  eye  for  a  pretty  man  and  a  soldier.  All  her 
life  she  had  lived  with  soldiers  and  norsemen,  and  had 
been  brought  up  in  the  atmosphere  of  war  and  strife, 
and  came  from  a  country  where  the  hand  must  keep 
the  head.  Therefore  men  of  action  she  understood. 
Also  an  Afghan  maid  is  as  other  maids  are,  curious, 
always  curious  as  to  what  may  be  her  lot  in  life,  and 
whether  she  marry  a  lord  she  likes,  and  whether  he 
shall  be  a  hero  and  a  Eustum.  Further,  Persian  love- 
songs  there  be  that  tell  of  the  devotion  of  man  to  maid 
and  the  happiness  that  love  may  bring.  Had  not  she 
heard  the  wandering  minstrel  sing  of  such  themes  away 
in  the  pomegranate  groves  of  Kabul,  and  in  Shalimar, 
in  gay  Kashmir  ?  Old  Amah,  her  nurse,  had  told  her 
many  a  tale  of  Khans  and  princes  of  the  Tartars 
riding  away  with  their  lady  loves  behind  them  on  fast 
Persian  horses,  carried  off  from  under  their  papa's 

E 


50  A  FKEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

very  noses,  despite  their  plans  to  give  them  in  marriage 
to  stuffy  old  Usbeg  nobles.  Dear  old  squat-nose 
Mongol  Amah,  with  almond  eye-slits  and  a  skin  like  a 
last  year's  pomegranate  !  What  good  stories  she  had 
of  stranger  princes  who  did  mighty  deeds.  So,  as  the 
keen  wind  blew  off  the  Pir  Panjal,  and  whistled 
through  the  tops  of  the  blue  pine,  Miriam's  spirits  had 
risen  and  she  had  caught  her  pony  up  by  his  thorn  bit 
and  made  him  prance  down  the  slope  to  the  Poonch 
till  her  two  serving  girls  squealed  with  alarm  leot  their 
sheepish  ponies  should  do  the  same.  Miriam  was  a 
horse-woman  and  could  ride  at  a  tent-peg,  if  relations 
only  were  looking  on,  like  any  girl  of  a  Ghilzai  clan. 

The  excitement  of  last  night's  fray,  too,  stirred  her 
good  red  blood,  and  all  seemed  well  in  the  sunlit 
forest,  "  Sing  Ho  !  Sing  Heigh  !  for  Arcady,"  and  her 
prancing  steed  danced  into  the  shiny  swirling  ford  of 
the  Poonch.  But  mountain  fords  are  chancy  things, 
and  a  leaping  Mahseer  *  made  Bijli,  her  horse,  start 
and  turn  down-stream.  Two  steps,  and  the  ford  was 
lost,  and  the  horse  floundering  in  and  out  of  deep  holes 
and  stumbling  breast-high  over  sunken  rocks.  Miriam 
soon  found  she  was  like  to  get  a  wet  skin,  if  nothing 
worse,  and  called  out  to  the  troopers  who  had  crossed 
ahead.  But  the  roar  of  the  rapids  drowned  her  voice, 
when  down  the  path  to  the  river  came  David  and  his 
party.  They  saw  at  once  that  the  force  of  the  stream 
was  the  trouble,  and  with  a  shout  a  dozen  of  his  men 
jumped  from  their  horses  and  immediately  rushed  into 
the  stream  forming  a  line  shoulder  to  shoulder,  arms 
intertwined,  above  the  rapids  in  which  she  was  flounder- 
ing. Almost  at  once  the  stream  rose  a  foot  high  above 
the  waists  of  the  wall  of  men  and  sank  a  foot  below 
them,  so  that  the  swirls  in  the  pools  lost  its  force,  and 

*  A  large  kind  of  fish. 


OVEK  THE  PIE  WITH  MIEIAM          51 

Bijli  was  able  to  steady  himself.  As  he  did  so  David 
arrived  to  seize  his  bridle  and  pilot  the  girl  to  the  Bafe 
path  and  the  bank  again. 

The  excitement  of  the  situation  had  banished 
reserve  and  disarranged  Miriam's  veil,  so  that  David 
found  a  bright-eyed  maid  with  sparkling  eyes  and 
braided  hair  ornamented  with  turquoise  torques,  bent 
rather  on  handling  a  frightened  horse  than  on  pre- 
serving the  silent  dignity  of  a  lady  of  high  degree  and 
Oriental  seclusion.  Her  greeting  to  David  in  recogni- 
tion of  his  assistance  was  entirely  natural  and  en- 
thusiastic, so  that  when  that  young  officer  had  set  tho 
ladies  on  their  right  path  and  rejoined  his  men;  ho 
found  himself  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  dwelling  on 
the  memory  of  what  feminine  eyes  could  look  like  if 
only  you  knew  how  to  look  at  them.  During  his  life^ 
women  had  not  entered  into  his  conception  of  the 
world.  His  mother  he  remembered  well  as  a  being 
apart,  and  there  was  one  English  lady,  who  had  made 
a  friend  of  the  Afghan  dame,  visiting  at  his  father's 
house,  but  that  marriage  itself  had  cut  Major  Fraser 
off  to  a  great  extent  from  tho  social  life  of  the  English 
settlements.  The  band,  the  dances  and  tho  reception 
of  the  station  assembly  rooms,  had  not  been  for  him; 
so  that  young  David  had  grown  up  with  none  of  the 
feminine  society  that  young  Englishmen  would  have 
been  accustomed  too.  Since  he  had  become  a  free- 
lance he  had  had  no  entanglements,  nor  had  the 
dancing  girl  adventuresses  that  thronged  the  Eastern 
courts  he  had  served  at  brought  him  at  all  within  their 
sway.  If  therefore  the  eyes  of  Miriam  had  looked 
with  favour  on  the  handsome  lad  who  had  so  success* 
fully  come  to  her  assistance  that  morning,  and  that 
of  her  party  generally  the  night  before,  they  had  looked 
on  a  promising  material  to  experiment  on, 

Musing  on  the  glimpse  of  the  lady  he  had  seen;  and 


52  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

speculating  on  her  and  her  brother's  position  in 
Kashmir  and  what  military  prospects  his  new  engage- 
ment offered  him,  he  sat  while  his  horse  climbed  for 
him. 

So  up  and  ever  upwards  towards  the  snowy  pass  the 
cavalcade  slowly  wound  along  the  graded  causeway, 
past  the  blue  pine  and  silver  fir,  and  ilex,  to  the  birch 
and  the  juniper.  Now  and  again  the  leading  party 
would  halt  to  let  the  string  close  up,  and  to  ease  the 
horses,  and  the  headmen  of  any  hamlets  passed  would 
hurry  out  to  offer  the  customary  tribute  to  travellers 
who  were  evidently  of  high  degree.  But  it  was  full 
high  noon  before  the  camping-ground  and  old  fort  of 
Hydrabad  Serai  was  reached,  and  here  Yar  Khan 
announced  his  intention  of  halting  for  an  hour  while 
the  girths  were  loosed  and  the  horses  fed  and  the  loads 
lifted  from  the  sumpter  mules.  The  Afghan  is 
nothing  if  not  a  good  horse-master,  as  David  noticed 
with  appreciation.  A  place  for  the  Lady  Miriam  was 
found  under  a  copse  of  silver  birch  and  juniper,  and 
some  skins  to  lie  on,  unrolled  from  one  of  the  pack 
loads.  Then,  having  posted  a  couple  of  sentries,  Yar 
Khan  drew  David  to  a  rock  overhanging  the  road  by 
which  they  had  come,  and  asked  for  details  of  what  had 
happened  at  the  ford.  When  he  had  heard  the  story, 
he  remarked — 

"  It's  no  bad  thing  to  have  made  a  friend  of  the  Lady 
Miriam.  She  has  great  influence  with  her  brother,  and 
says  and  does  what  she  likes.  Thank  God,  that  is 
usually  wise,  or  we  might  often  be  in  trouble.  She 
won't  marry  any  of  the  nobles  who  have  sought  her, 
and  Salabat  Khan  only  laughs,  and  says  she  shall  do 
as  she  likes.  'Tis  not  my  idea  of  how  to  manage 
women.  In  my  young  day  we  married  them  to  whom 
we  liked,  and  listened  not  to  their  weepings  and  their 
tantrums." 


OVER  THE  PIE  WITH  MIRIAM          53 

And  here  this  fierce  old  hidalgo  twisted  his  moustache 
and  pulled  at  his  close  cropped  beard.  Yar  Khan's 
thick  squat  nose  and  almond  eye  showed  that  there 
must  be  Tartar  blood  in  his  veins  for  all  his  Afghan 
pedigree,  and  with  a  pock-marked  skin,  ruddy  cheeks 
and  grizzled  beard  he  looked  every  inch  the  rough  and 
tumble  highland  chief  of  few  scruples  and  imperfect 
manners.  His  small  turban  was  set  jauntily  on  one 
side  of  his  head,  and  this  lent  an  air  of  ram-you,  dam-y ou 
independence  to  his  bearing  which  was  singularly 
attractive.  His  square,  muscular  figure  heightened 
this  impression.  A  life  of  soldiering,  of  striving,  and 
at  last  of  actual  king-making,  had  given  him  great 
confidence  in  his  own  power  and  judgment,  and  his 
outer  man  bore  testimony  thereto. 

"  However,"  he  continued,  "  that  is  no  affair  of 
mine,  I  have  other  things  to  do  than  look  after  the 
ladies  of  the  governor's  family  and  household.  It  is 
quite  enough  for  one  poor  Afghan  to  manage  the  affairs 
of  a  vice-regal  court.  Now,  see  here,  young  sir.  His 
Excellency  ordered  me  to  tell  you  the  whole  situation, 
and  trust  you  fully  since  he  was  convinced  of  your 
sincerity.  I  won't  say  that  I  am  too,  but  according  to 
orders  I  now  tell  you  all  about  it.  Salabat  Khan  has 
been  governor  in  Kashmir  for  the  last  six  years,  on 
behalf  of  the  Shah  at  Kabul,  and  we  have  held  the 
province  for  the  Duranni  Empire  against  Rajput  and 
Sikh,  but  especially  against  intrigue.  We  have  held 
the  valley  against  the  first  two  as  open  enemies,  for 
His  Excellency  fears  no  man,  but  we  have  also  held  it 
for  his  own  hand  against  factions  who  would  work  him 
harm  at  court  and  supplant  him  as  governor.  There 
are  many  Afghan  nobles  settled  on  the  land  in  Kashmir, 
especially  in  the  Lolab  valley,  and  there  are  several 
Toorki  families  who  are  bitterly  hostile  to  His  Ex- 
cellency Salabat  Khan.  Altamish  Khan  is  the  principal 


54  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

chief  of  the  Toorks,  and  he  has  a  large  following.  His 
land  is  in  jaghir,*  and  so  long  as  he  does  not  commit 
himself  we  cannot  interfere  with  him,  but  we  know 
that  he  is  at  the  bottom  of  half  the  trouble  in  Kashmir. 
He  hates  Salabat  Khan  too,  with  a  bitter  hatred,  born 
of  some  business  over  a  maid  of  Baltistan  some  ten 
years  ago.  Now  it  is  because  of  some  news  we  had  of 
doings  at  Srinagar  that  Salabat  Khan  was  anxious  to 
push  on  over  the  Pir,  and  has  sent  me  and  the  Lady 
Miriam  on  in  his  stead  with  your  support.  The  Lady 
Miriam  is  much  beloved  of  the  people,  and  her  presence 
is  always  a  strength  to  us  in  time  of  trouble.  I  expect 
a  runner  to-night  at  our  camp  to  say  how  things  are  in 
the  capital." 

After  which  outline  of  Kashmir  politics,  it  was  time 
for  the  Tcafila  to  be  up  and  off  again,  the  horses  fresh 
after  their  rest  and  feed, 

*  Feudal  tenure. 


CHAPTEK  VI 

THE   RIVAL   PARTY   AT   SRINAGAR 

FIFTY  or  sixty  miles  away  from  the  top  of  the  Pir 
Panjal,  lies  the  capital  of  Srinagar,  the  Holy  City,  holy 
to  the  Hindu  and  holy  in  the  Sanscrit  language.  The 
old  Hindu  kings  had  long  been  ousted  by  the  all- 
conquering  might  of  Islam,  and  the  population  of  the 
valley  save  only  the  Brahmin  Levite  clans  had  long 
been  converted  forcibly  to  believe  in  God  and  His 
prophet.  The  beautiful  old  stone  temples  of  the 
Hindus,  which  men  said  had  been  built  by  the  semi- 
mythical  Panda vs,  had  been  destroyed.  Destroyed, 
men  said  again,  by  piling  burning  brushwood  against 
the  walls  and  then  dashing  cold  water  on  the  heated 
carvings  so  that  they  cracked  and  flaked  away  from 
the  wall,  in  which  ruined  and  desolate  state  they 
remain  to  this  day.  The  Holy  City  stands  bereft  of  its 
holiness  on  both  sides  of  the  river  Jhelum,  on  plinths 
stolen  from  the  ancient  temples.  The  river  rises  away 
at  the  top  of  the  valley  of  Kashmir,  clear  and  strong 
from  a  pool  under  a  hill,  round  which  is  built  a  palace; 
and  then  wanders  for  sixty  miles  through  that  beautiful 
upland  valley  where  only  man  is  vile,  as  wandered  and 
curled  that  wayward  stream  into  which  the  goodly 
youth  Meander  turned,  far  away  in  fair  Hellas  many  a 
century  earlier.  On  the  banks  clustered  the  latticed 
houses  and  the  carved  verandahs  of  the  city  folk,  and 

65 


56  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

the  tall  spires  of  the  mosques  of  Islam.  Among  these 
same  mosques  there  stood  one  in  which  men  claim, 
lies  Christ,  who  according  to  the  legend  of  Kashmir, 
died  not  on  the  Cross,  but  survived  to  wander  East  and 
preach  peace  and  goodwill,  recognized  by  modern  Islam 
as  one  of  the  prophets. 

If  you  look  on  Srinagar  from  one  of  the  northern 
spurs  of  the  Pir  Panjal,  you  will  see  the  green  valley 
and  the  meandering  Jhelum  curling  in  those  figures  of 
eight  that  first  suggested  the  famous  shawl  pattern. 
And  rising  above  the  city  of  spires  you  will  see  the 
tall  hill  in  the  middle  of  the  valley  overhanging  the 
city  which  folk  call  the  Throne  of  Solomon,  and  close 
to  it  a  lesser  hill  crowned  by  a  fortress.  Across,  on  the 
far  side,  the  northern  fringe  of  mountains,  snow-clad 
and  commanding,  whence  the  roads  lead  to  China  and 
Thibet  and  the  ever  famous  pilgrims'  road.  Then,  as 
you  descend  from  the  spurs  and  ride  on  you  will  come 
to  the  walled  palace  and  barrack  of  Srinagar  known  as 
the  Shergarhi,  or  lion's  dwelling,  in  which  the  Governor 
dwelt  with  all  his  machinery  of  government,  save  on 
such  occasions  when  he  chose  to  move  himself  to  the 
greater  fortress  of  Hari  Parbat,  on  the  lesser  hill  re- 
ferred to,  whence  his  iron  guns  frowned  over  the  city 
below.  It  is  always  good  when  an  Eastern  potentate 
to  have  some  frowning  place  of  refuge  against  the  days 
when  the  people  fail  to  appreciate  efforts  and  methods 
of  governing,  or  when  schism  rends  the  land. 

Round  the  outskirts  of  the  city  stand  many  garden 
residences  of  the  nobles.  Behind  the  Throne  of 
Solomon,  between  it  and  the  great  mountains,  lies  that 
most  wonderful  land-locked  lake  known  as  the  Dhall, 
and  on  its  shores  the  beautiful  gardens  that  the  Mogul 
Emperors  of  Delhi  had  laid  out  for  their  own  and  their 
ladies'  pleasure — the  Shalimar,  the  Garden  of  Happi- 
ness, and  the  Garden  of  Soft  Breezes.  The  very  name 


Shalimar  is  redolent  of  Eastern  beauty  and  love  and 
wine,  "  The  fair  pale  hand  I  love  beside  the  Shalimar." 
And  behind  the  Shalimar  lay  the  village  of  Pulhalan; 
and  close  by  the  village  the  suburban  residence  of 
Altamish  Khan,  the  Toork.  If  any  one  had  been  in  an 
observant  mood  in  an  afternoon  in  the  middle  of  the 
Hindu  month  of  diet,  he  would  have  seen  that  row- 
boats  kept  making  for  the  Shalimar  from  various  sides 
of  the  lake,  and  by  the  green  highway  from  the  Holy 
City,  horse,  foot,  and  sedan  chairs.  In  fact,  Altamish 
Khan  was  giving  a  garden  party  to  those  of  his  friends 
and  supporters  who  might  further  his  plans  regarding 
the  governorship. 

The  evening  before,  a  messenger  had  arrived  from  a 
friend  and  watcher  in  the  state  of  Poonch,  and  the  news 
that  he  had  brought  was  that  His  Excellency  Salabat 
Khan  had  been  killed  in  a  skirmish  with  the  Hill 
Rajpoots  close  to  Thanamandi  on  the  Punjab  side  of 
the  Pir  Panjal.  Thereon  Altamish  Khan  had  decided 
on  seizing  the  governorship  forthwith,  by  a  coup  de 
main,  cutting  off  in  the  process  the  heads  of  all  the 
Afghan  party,  as  distinguished  from  the  Toork  party, 
who  might  be  likely  to  thwart  or  oppose  him.  The 
which  is  a  first  principle  in  Eastern  politics.  Now 
Altamish  Khan,  the  Toork,  was  as  dissolute  and  un- 
principled as  a  man  brought  up  in  the  decaying  court 
of  Delhi  well  could  be,  sparing,  when  opportunity 
offered,  none  who  ever  crossed  his  path  to  hindrance. 
He  was,  moreover,  a  born  intriguer,  and,  like  many 
of  his  kidney,  often  over-reached  himself.  His  agents 
of  intrigue  were  many,  and  none  more  influential  and 
shrewder  than  the  lady  who,  styling  herself  the  Begum 
Allah  Visayah,  belonged  to  what  has  been  called  the 
oldest  profession  in  the  world.  She  dwelt,  after  the 
manner  of  her  kind,  in  a  house  on  the  city  wall,  but  in 
this  case  the  wall  that  overhung  the  Jhelum.  Her 


58  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

upper  room  contained  a  long  latticed  balcony  from 
which  the  habitues  could  smoke  their  liuqas  and  scan 
the  busy  life  of  the  river  and  spy  also  on  those  who  came 
and  went  to  and  from  the  palace,  at  any  rate,  as  far  as 
the  river  gate  was  concerned.  Those  who  frequented 
the  salon  of  the  Begum  Allah  Visayah  were  usually 
of  high  degree,  gallants  from  about  the  viceregal  court, 
captains  of  the  horse,  and  the  barons  of  the  suburbs. 
Gossip  of  the  better  type,  was  always  to  be  had  at  the 
time  of  morning  audience,  better,  that  is  to  say,  so  far 
as  interest  went,  but  in  little  else.  Gossip  is  always 
evil,  and  gossip  in  the  interior  of  an  Eastern  courtesan's 
residence  would  hardly  be  of  the  highest.  But  such; 
as  it  was,  it  had  the  spice  which  surrounds  the  doings 
of  the  princes  and  governors,  and  a  value  of  its  own  to 
those  who  could  sift  the  chaff  from  the  grain.  So 
thought  the  Afghan  lad,  Habib  Ullah,  of  the  tribe  of 
the  sons  of  Joseph,  who  lay  at  his  ease  on  a  crimson 
divan  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  Begum's  inner  reception 
room,  and  listened  whilst  that  astute  lady  conversed 
with  her  morning's  visitors.  The  gossip  ran  on  the 
invitations  to  Altamish's  garden  party,  and  what  would 
be  likely  to  transpire,  or  if  it  was  only  a  social  gathering. 
Now  Habib  Ullah  commanded  the  squadron  that 
formed  His  Excellency's  Khas  Eissalali,  or  bodyguard, 
a  troop  entirely  of  his  own  men,  not  connected  with 
the  Duranni,  save  that  his  sister  was  married  to  a  cousin 
of  Salabat  Khan.  After  a  while  the  company  thinned 
out  till  chatting  with  the  Begum  were  two  Toork  gentry 
only,  relatives  and  supporters  of  Altamish,  and  regular 
admirers  of  her  own.  One  lay  comfortably  on  a 
Bokhara  rug,  while  the  other  sat  on  a  wicker  stool,  and 
both  were  smoking  rose-water  huqas.  They  had  not 
noticed  the  Afghan  in  the  comer  as  they  entered, 
and  when  unexpectedly  they  commenced  to  talk 
secrets  the  Begum  for  the  moment  was  at  a  loss  what 


THE  RIVAL  PAETY  AT  SEINAGAB   59 

to  do.  Then  she  made  up  her  mind,  Habib  Ullah 
was  very  much  in  her  toils  and  she — well,  she  cared 
much  more  for  him  than  any  other  of  her  clientele.  A 
handsome  lad  with  a  winning  way,  and  a  fine  swords- 
man, who  carried  her  favours  arrogantly  before  all,  as 
young  men  should,  taking  the  wall  to  no  man.  There- 
fore, thought  the  Begum,  he  shall  hear  what  is  going, 
and  he  shall  keep  the  secret  for  my  sake  or  make  such 
use  of  as  he  will,  if  I  let  him.  So  she  lay  back  on  her 
cushions,  and  the  Toorki  visitors  commenced, 

"  My  Lord  Al tarnish  sends  you  greeting.  Salabat 
Khan,  the  Governor,  is  dead  in  Poonch,  and  my  lord 
will  himself  seize  the  Shergarhi  and  proclaim  himself 
governor  in  the  name  of  the  Emperor,  which  Emperor, 
Delhi  or  Kabul,  matters  not.  The  clansmen  from  the 
Lolab  valley  are  even  now  moving  in.  The  Regiment 
of  Victory  hold  the  Hari  Parbat  fort.  It  is  necessary 
that  that  regiment  shall  either  declare  for  Altamish  or 
march  out  and  hand  the  fort  over,  the  former  for 
choice.  It  is  understood  that  what  you  will  the  com- 
mandant of  the  regiment  does.  Now,  this  is  the 
message  to  you.  '  Let  it  be  arranged  that  the 
Regiment  of  Victory  open  the  fort  gates  to  me  to- 
morrow evening  at  sundown,  and  then  march  to  the 
Shergarhi.' " 

"  The  words  of  the  great  Khan  are  a  law  unto  his 
servants,  but  this  is  a  difficult  matter,  full  of  complica- 
tions. This  humble  one  may  well  lose  all  and  her 
life  too." 

"  The  Lord  Altamish  also  bade  us  say,  that  if  the 
Regiment  of  Victory  came  over,  the  estates  of  Pampur 
should  be  yours  and  a  lakh  of  Kabul-Shahi  rupees  as 
well." 

"  The  Lord  Altamish,"  quoth  the  lady,  "  is  liberal  as 
ever,  and  it  is  true  that  what  I  will,  so  does  the  com- 
mandant of  the  Regiment  of  Victory  act.  But  how  am 


60  A  FKEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

I  to  know  that  Salabat  Khan  is  really  dead  ?  Who  can 
appoint  his  successor  but  the  Emperor  of  Kabul  ? 
Does  my  lord  Altamish  defy  the  Emperor  ?  " 

"  Nay,  nay,  Madam !  "  urged  the  envoys  together. 
"  The  Lord  Altamish  takes  the  government  to  prevent 
disorder  till  His  Majesty  at  Kabul  sends  a  sanad  *  to 
his  successor.  The  Begum  herself  knows  well  that 
Kabul  is  a  far  cry  from  Kashmir,  and  that  the  Emperor 
cares  not  who  governs  so  long  as  tribute  comes 
regularly." 

"  But,"  again  urged  the  cautious  Begum  who  knew 
too  well  the  road  that  those  tread  who  are  caught  in 
intrigue  between  the  nether  millstones,  "  the  Imperial 
order  of  the  Duranni  is  this,  as  all  the  world  knows, 
that  when  a  governor  dies  the  naib-Wazir,  who  as 
thou  knowest  is  the  Sirdar  Yar  Khan,  takes  charge  till 
the  Imperial  will  is  known.  Thou  well  knowest  what 
became  of  the  Mooltani  Pathan  who  took  charge  un- 
authorized when  the  Khagwani  governor  of  Mooltan 
died  of  cholera.'1 

"  It  were  well  I  fancy  to  leave  such  points  to  the 
Lord  Altamish  who  no  doubt  knows  his  own  business,1 
and  besides  has  Kazilbash  friends  at  court  to  support 
his  claim.  The  point  for  us  is,  will  you  earn  our  Lord's 
lakh  of  rupees  and  the  Pampur  estates,  by  making 
certain  that  the  Regiment  of  Victory  do  as  my  Lord 
may  order  ?  He  has  ordered  that  you  have  some 
earnest  money  of  what  is  to  come.  By  his  command, 
I  now  invest  you  with  this  chain." 

And  here  the  envoy  hung  round  the  neck  of  the 
courtesan  a  chain  of  kincob  and  pearls  with  an  emerald 
pendant.  This  type  of  ornament,  well  known  in  all  the 
harems  of  the  north,  was  modelled  after  the  famous 
necklace  that  Nadir  Shah  the  Persian  brought  away 

*  Warrant  of  appointment. 


THE  EIVAL  PAETY  AT  SEINAGAB      61 

from  the  Great  Mogul  for  his  Hindu  lady-love  who  had 
followed  him  so  faithfully.  The  pearls  might  vary  in 
value,  but  the  pattern  of  the  necklace  had  become 
stereotyped.  In  this  case  the  pearls  though  not  large 
were  enough  to  stir  the  envy  of  better  women  than  the 
Begum.  Her  eyes  glistened  with  desire,  and  she 
eagerly  said — 

"  It  is  well,  I  accept  the  guerdon.  The  Kommadan  * 
of  the  Eegiment  of  Victory  shall  do  as  I  tell  him  and 
hand  over  Hari  Parbat  fort  to  whom  the  Lord  Altamish 
wills  and  at  the  time  he  wills." 

And  then  the  Toork  envoys  rose  to  go,  feeling  that 
the  less  said  now  the  better,  lest  the  lady  repent  her  of 
her  undertaking,  or  ask  for  more  earnest  money,  after 
the  manner  of  her  kind. 

"  Hush,  my  lords,"  cried  she,  "  some  one  comes  ! 
Oh,  it  is  my  friend  Habib  Ullah,  whom  doubtless  you 
know,  of  the  governor's  bodyguard.  Come  in,  Khan 
Sahib,  I  do  but  receive  two  gentlemen  of  the  Lord 
Al tarnish's  following." 

And  here  Habib  Ullah,  who  had  heard  most  of  what 
had  been  passing,  and  who  understood  that  the  Begum 
had  meant  him  to  do  so,  quietly  came  forward,  and 
said — 

"  Gracious  one  !  Here  have  I  been  waiting  patiently 
at  your  doorstep  for  I  heard  that  you  gave  audience." 

The  young  Afghan,  to  whom  as  to  all  of  his  kind, 
intrigue  and  plot  and  counterplot  is  ever  the  salt  of 
life,  bowed  gracefully  and  courteously  to  the  two  Toork 
nobles,  saying — 

"  Ever  does  this  house  of  grace  receive  the  great  ones 
of  the  city  and  the  valley.  May  your  star  be  exalted 
and  your  fortunes  ever  flourish." 

To  which  the  Toorks  replied,  "  May  wisdom  and 

*  Commandant. 


62  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

prosperity  ever  remain  at  your  disposal,"  and  left  the 
room,  to  hunt  for  their  shoes  at  the  stairs  and  pay  a 
gratuity  to  the  attendant  whose  business  it  was  to  look 
after  visitor's  foot-wear. 

Going  out  into  the  street,  one  remarked,  "  That  pert 
young  cockerel  is  piping  low  to-day.  Can  it  be  that 
he  too  wants  service  with  the  Lord  ?  " 

"  The  devil,  whom  these  Afghans  serve,  has  no  doubt 
prompted  him  to  seek  his  own  advantage  sooner  than 
his  master's,"  quoth  his  companion.  "  It  will  be  well 
to  let  Allah  Visayah  know  that  she  should  make  sure 
of  him  too.  He  is  young  enough  to  be  useful,  and  not 
too  old  to  be  dangerous.  Besides,  we  want  some 
Afghans,  or  we  shall  have  trouble  with  all  the  following 
in  the  city.  We  can't  kill  them  all  or  we  shall  bring 
the  Emperor  himself  here.  If  we  can  square  half  the 
Afghans  once  we  have  seized  the  fort,  then  we  can 
report  to  Kabul  that  we  have  taken  temporary  charge 
of  the  government,  and  have  the  Afghans  with  us,  and 
that  only  those  who  tried  to  raise  riot  and  rebellion 
have  been  slain.  At  the  worst  we  can  but  make  for 
Delhi,  and  as  you  know,  Altamish  has  many  Toork 
friends  there  and  in  Oudh." 

So  the  two  plotters  rode  away  on  their  stout  ponies 
that  come  from  Yarkand  away  over  the  China  passes 
by  the  pilgrim's  road,  that  wonderful  road  from  which 
the  Chinese  had  come,  rain  and  shine,  for  centuries  to 
worship  at  the  shrine  of  Prince  Gautama;  the  Buddha. 
It  is  the  record  of  these  pilgrims'  journeys  that  help  us 
more  to  follow  the  obscurer  incidents  of  the  Teacher's 
life  than  anything  else. 

Altamish  Khan  the  Toork  was  one  of  those  many 
freelance  leaders  who  had  so  constantly  come  out  of 
that  great  Central  Asian  cauldron  whence  hardy  fierce 
Toork,  Tartar,  and  Mongol  races  had  poured  to  the 
overrunning  of  a  continent,  north;  south;  east  and 


THE  RIVAL  PARTY  AT  SRINAGAR      63 

west.  As  had  been  the  custom  of  his  forbears,  he, 
with  a  following  of  his  own  men  to  which  he  had  added 
any  useful  knave  who  could  handle  a  sword  and  a 
bowstring,  had  become  one  of  the  many  powerful 
chiefs  who  had  sold  their  services  to  Ahmad  Shah,  the 
Abdalli,  who  founded,  on  the  death  of  Nadir  Shah  the 
Persian,  the  Duranni  Empire  of  Kabul.  When  that 
monarch  died,  Altamish  had  continued  to  serve  his 
successors  on  the  throne  of  Kabul,  and  had  been 
given  estates  in  Kashmir,  on  that  province  being 
wrested  from  the  Mogul.  Now  estates  are  all  very 
well,  but  Altamish  was  growing  old,  and  it  was  high 
time  that  ho  should  occupy  some  more  lucrative  post 
than  that  of  a  mere  landed  baron  of  the  Empire, 
True,  the  great  muscular  Kashmiri  peasant  farmers 
who  were  his  tenants  paid  him  fair  dues  and  more,  for 
they  were  a  chicken-hearted  lot,  despite  their  huge 
thews,  but  he  was  too  old  an  oppressor  to  overstrain 
the  moneymaker.  As  much  as  he  could  wring  from 
his  tenantry  he  wrang,  but  that  did  not  give  him  the 
wealth  that  he  coveted  to  surround  his  old  age  with 
luxury  and  evil.  He  would  fain  be  a  governor  of  a 
province  free  to  farm  the  taxes  and  work  his  will  after 
the  manner  of  the  East.  Therefore  it  was  that  he 
sought  ever  to  sit  in  the  seat  of  Salabat  Khan,  by  fair 
means  or  foul,  and  all  his  following  longed  too  that 
their  lord  might  come  to  wealth  and  more  estate,  that 
each  in  his  turn  might  farm  some  part  of  the  revenue 
and  oppress  his  neighbour  in  official  guise, 

Salabat  Khan  Duranni  was  a  better  governor  than 
provinces  of  the  Kabul  Empire  usually  got.  The  Afghan 
himself  needs  ever  a  cruel  master.  Centuries  of  war 
and  oppression  and  wrong  have  taught  every  man 
to  be  a  law  unto  himself.  Never  a  hint  of  the  law  of 
love  and  right  doing  have  penetrated  to  these  hills  in 
which  the  mountains  of  Asia  break  into  crests  of  rugged 


64  A  FEEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

rock  and  stone.  To  paganism  has  succeeded  Islam  in 
its  cruellest  form,  and  the  law  of  Moses  has  long  been 
lost.  To  rule  Afghans  you  must  flay  them  alive,  men 
say,  and  gouge  out  their  eyes,  and  if  you  would  be 
merciful,  blow  them  away  from  a  gun  and  have  done 
with  it.  And  then  as  to  bo  cruel  is  to  be  avaricious; 
those  who  had  the  power  must  extract  for  themselves 
just  as  much  as  could  be  had  without  the  wretch 
turning  in  despair,  and  ceasing  to  be  a  yielder  of 
revenue.  So  Afghan  governors  bred  in  this  school 
were  apt  to  be  sore  taskmasters  in  gentler  lands.  Now 
and  again,  however,  the  larger  and  more  established 
families  had  come  to  security  of  tenure  and  estates 
and  had  sufficient  strength  to  be  free  to  learn.  Nadu- 
Shah,  despite  his  all-conquering  genius  and  his  ruth- 
lessness  on  occasion,  had  wit  to  see  that  a  milder  folk 
thrived  under  a  kindlier  sway,  and  the  Hindu  maid 
that  touched  his  warrior  heart  had  softened  his  ways 
and  his  laws.  He  had  some  knowledge  of  how  to  rule 
the  people  for  the  people.  And  there  were  men  of  his 
court  and  his  armies  who  had  learnt  something  of  his 
conceptions.  Then  ever  there  were  memories  among 
learned  men  of  the  great  Akbar  who  ruled  as  none 
had  ruled  in  India  for  a  thousand  years,  who  dreamed 
of  making  all  faiths  one,  and  of  the  day  when  the  lamb 
should  lay  down  with  the  lion.  And  lay  down  with 
the  lamb  the  lion  had  to  in  his  day,  in  peace  and  honour 
whether  he  like  or  no,  lest  worse  befall.  But  the  day 
of  Akbar  had  passed,  and  generation  in  generation  out, 
ever  the  Mogul  had  grown  feebler  and  lost  his  northern 
courage  and  character.  However,  that  belongs  to 
another  chapter  of  history  than  the  days  of  David 
Eraser  and  Maid  Miriam,  and  suffice  it  to  say,  that 
Salabat  Khan  had  had  a  finer  up-bringing  than  most. 
He  had  been  cared  for  by  an  uncle  away  up  in  the 
valleys  beyond  Istalif,  where,  to  some  extent,  the  lie 


THE  EIVAL  PARTY  AT  SRINAGAE   65 

had  been  given  to  the  saying  that  you  ruled  an  Afghan 
only  with  scorpions.  His  uncle  had  ruled  as  the  good 
barons  rule,  a  word  and  a  blow  if  you  like,  but  a  just 
word  and  a  just  blow.  And  his  aunt  had  brought 
up  a  family  of  half  a  dozen  as  well  as  her  nephew 
and  his  sister,  and  that  with  some  reference  to  the 
ruth  of  God  and  the  true  teaching  of  the  Prophet, 
who,  be  it  ever  remembered,  was  bom  of  a  Christian 
mother. 

Salabat  Khan,  her  nephew,  had  been  appointed 
ruler  of  Kashmir,  because  the  Emperor  knew  that  to 
make  Kashmir  pay  good  revenue  it  was  necessary  to 
treat  it  fair.  Fair  treatment  then  the  valley  had  had, 
these  last  seven  years,  and  though  the  governor  could 
flay  a  man  as  promptly  as  any  Afghan,  he  never  did  it 
to  his  own  ends,  or  for  aught  save  in  punishment  for 
cruel  and  dastard  outrage.  The  valley  had  repaid 
the  good  treatment  it  had  received,  the  great  rice 
barges  bringing  in  the  revenue  came  yearly  to  the 
state  granaries  full  to  the  gunwale.  There  were 
more  rupees  in  the  treasury  than  earlier  governors 
ever  dreamt  of. 

It  was  some  considerable  knowledge  of  the  history 
of  the  valley  and  of  what  did  or  not  make  a  good  ruler 
that  caused  Allah  Visayah  the  courtesan  to  act  as  we 
shall  see  her.  To  be  in  the  higher  flight  of  her  pro- 
fession in  a  large  and  official  town,  was  to  be  something 
more  than  a  painted  denizen  of  the  housetop.  To  ride 
with  the  hare  and  hunt  with  the  hounds  in  an  Eastern 
capital  requires  some  steadiness  of  brain  and  of  purpose, 
some  knowledge  of  the  hearts  of  men,  and  some  inkling, 
however  afar  off,  of  the  mainsprings  of  good  and  of 
evil.  To  be  a  courtesan  in  the  East,  and  for  the 
matter  of  that,  often  enough  in  the  West,  is  to  be 
born  to  the  trade,  to  be  born  to  snare  men,  to  dance 
for  a  livelihood,  and  to  serve  as  attendants  at  holy 

F 


66  A  FREELANCE   IN  KASHMIR 

shrines.  From  her  birth  the  Beguin  had  been  devoted 
to  her  profession  as  a  votive  offering,  by  her  mother, 
who  had  followed  the  same  profession,  and  her  grand- 
mother before  her.  As  also  will  her  descendants, 
so  long  as  Hinduism  and  Islam  have  no  public 
conscience. 

Allah  Visayah  had  been  brought  up  trained  in  the 
arts  and  graces  as  usually  imparted  to  one  of  her  calling. 
Musical  by  nature,  she  played  the  love -songs  of  Persia 
and  crooned  their  sibilant  words,  with  more  than  per- 
functory feeling,  and  the  poetry  and  wisdom  of  Saadi 
she  had  studied  for  what  it  was  worth.  To  a  love  of 
music  and  a  desire  for  learning,  she  added  good  nature, 
so  that  she  was  well  equipped  to  acquire  some  amount 
of  backstairs  influence.  Added  to  which  she  had  in 
her  youth  spent  some  money  lavished  on  her  by  a 
Mogul  noble  in  making  a  pilgrimage  to  a  famed  shrine 
away  in  the  snows,  and  had  there  picked  up  en  route,  or 
was  reputed  to  have  acquired,  some  knowledge  of  the 
occult  sufficient  for  that  useful  acquisition,  the  fear 
of  her  neighbours. 

So  with  some  larger  outlook  that  those  who  counted 
on  their  curry,  and  the  jewels  they  could  extract  from 
their  admirers,  the  prosperity  of  the  valley  and  of  the 
dwellers  in  the  city  was  a  matter  on  which  she  was 
wont  to  ponder.  Salabat  Khanj  the  governor,  it  was 
true,  had  other  fish  to  fry  than  came  to  her  net,  but 
once  he  had  given  a  judgment  against  her,  in  a  case 
in  which  the  whole  mass  of  evidence  was  indubitably 
on  her  side,  but  was  false  in  every  item,  purchased  at  a 
price.  Therefore  she  knew  him  for  a  shrewd,  just  man, 
before  whom  the  right  would  prevail,  and  knew,  too, 
that  Altamish  Khan  was  the  very  reverse.  Salabat 
Khan's  death,  then,  she  recognized  as  a  loss,  if  true, 
and  the  question  for  her  to  decide  was  whether  or  no 
she  should  aid  his  following.  Business  was  business, 


THE  EIVAL  PAETY  AT  SEINAGAE      67 

and  what  had  such  as  she  to  do  with  the  ethics  of 
state  craft?  Nothing,  absolutely  nothing,  of  course, 
and  the  Pampur  estates,  with  a  lakh  of  rupees  thrown 
in  as  a  make  weight,  was  not  to  bo  sneezed  at.  There- 
fore, decided  the  quick  mind  of  Allah  Visayah,  both 
birds  shall  fall  to  my  stone !  I  will  warn  the  Naib 
Wazir,  the  Sirdar  Yar  Khan,  and  I  will  also  see  that 
the  Eegiment  of  Victory  shall  render  to  Altamish  the 
Fort  of  Hari  Parbat. 

"  Habib  Ullah,  you  have  heard  what  those  mis- 
begotten Toorks  said  to  mo  ?  " 

"  I  heard,  Lotus-Eyed,  that  His  Excellency  is  dead, 
and  that  Altamish  Khan  will  try  by  force  to  succeed 
him." 

"  How  will  he  do  that,  Khan  jee  ?  " 

"  That  I  do  not  know,  but  ho  has  a  considerable 
following." 

"  You,  no  doubt,  are  on  his  side." 

"  I,  Lotus-Eyed  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  seem  in  no  hurry  to  prevent  it." 

"  The  race  is  not  always  to  the  swift,  Lotus-Eyed. 
I  wait  to  hear  more.  It  is  easy  to  run  into  a  tangle. 
Patience  is  the  practice  of  wisdom." 

"  Very  well.  Now,  Khan  Sahib !  Are  you  minded  to 
keep  the  Afghans  as  governors  of  this  province  ?  If  so, 
listen.  Go,  warn  the  Commandant  of  the  Shorgarhi, 
who  himself  is  acting  as  governor,  and  then  do  you 
ride  straight  as  an  arrow  from  Eustum's  bow  to  tho 
Pir  Panjal,  by  the  Imperial  Eoad,  and  find  the  Sirdar 
Yar  Khan,  and  tell  him.  Also  warn  the  commandant 
that  the  Eegiment  of  Victory  may  not  be  staunch,  and 
should  on  no  account  be  brought  into  the  Shergarhi, 
and  also  say  that  it  might  be  wise  to  leave  it  where  it 
is,  as  any  attempt  to  move  it  may  bring  on  trouble. 
Doest  understand  ?  " 

"  I  understand,  Lotus-Eyed,  right  well.    You  are 


68  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIK 

wise  as  ever.  But  is  there  not  time  that  I  stay  a  while 
with  you,  and  thou  shalt  sing  me  of  the  Rose  that  fell 
on  the  Garden  Path  ?  " 

"  Habib  Ullah !  Is  this  a  time  for  you  and  your 
folly  ?  No  wonder  Empires  are  lost  and  won  if  you 
would  twang  the  zithar  when  you  should  be  galloping 
your  Tazi  horse  to  the  mountains  !  Go,  and  as  you 
and  I  are  old  friends,  it  is  well  that  you  should  see  that 
both  of  us  are  no  losers.  See  that  the  Lord  Yar  Khan 
knows  who  is  his  friend  here  in  Srinagar,  and  say  also 
that  no  man  knoweth  yet  how  far  this  mischief  has 
gone.  Go  now,  lest  I  curse  thee  for  a  fool  and  sell 
you  all  to  the  Toorks  !  " 

Then  Habib  Ullah,  the  captain  of  horse,  took  counsel 
of  the  courtesan,  and  sped  away  to  the  Shergarhi,  and 
to  saddle  his  swift  Tazi. 

And  the  Begum  Allah  Visayah  thanked  her  stars 
that  men  are  fools  ever. 


ALIABAD    SEEAI 

SOON  after  leaving  their  midday  halt  at  Hyderabad, 
the  cavalcade  of  Yar  Khan  and  the  Lady  Miriam  with 
David  Eraser  and  his  troop  entered  the  snow  line,  now 
unfortunately  soft  with  the  full  force  of  the  sun.  This 
made  the  going  heavy  and  difficult  for  the  animals, 
while  the  riders  had  to  cover  their  faces  with  their 
puggarees  lest  the  glare  blind  them  and  strip  the  skin 
from  their  faces.  David  had  dismounted  and  given 
his  horse  to  his  orderly,  concerning  himself  with  walking 
beside  the  pony  of  Miriam,  which  was  slipping  and 
slithering  at  every  step.  After  a  few  hundred  feet  of 
climbing,  the  road  lay  through  a  shaded  gully  where 
the  sun  had  not  penetrated  and  the  hard  snow  was 
better  going  for  the  horses.  David  pulled  up  her 
horse  to  lift  the  feet  and  dig  out  the  ball  of  caked  snow 
that  had  collected  in  the  frogs.  As  he  did  this  he  was 
surprised  to  hear  her  speak.  The  etiquette  and  custom 
of  the  East  leads  not  veiled  women  to  speak  to  strange 
men,  and  as  yet  they  had  not  held  converse.  The  ways 
of  an  Afghan  lady  of  rank,  however,  are  above  the 
conventions  that  cramp  the  more  secluded  races. 

"  I  have  not  thanked  you,  courteous  stranger,"  said 
she,  "  for  your  help  at  the  ford.  Damming  the  water 
for  me  with  a  wall  of  men  was  well  thought  of.  I  have 
heard  my  father  speak  of  such  a  thing  when  crossing 

69 


70  A  FEEELANCE  IN   KASHMIB 

our  Afghan  streams,  but  I  have  never  seen  it  done. 
Tell  me  whence  you  come,  if  you  will  and  it  is  no  secret. 
I  can  keep  secrets  too,  if  that  be  your  pleasure." 

And  David  looked  up  into  the  veiled  face,  and  just 
saw  the  tip  of  a  well-turned  chin. 

"  Nay,  lady,"  said  he.  "  Who  am  I  that  I  should 
have  secrets,  or  what  is  there  in  my  life  that  any  one 
would  care  to  hear  of  ?  " 

"  That  is  my  business,"  quoth  the  maiden.  "  It  is 
enough  that  I  am  content  to  listen  if  you  are  willing  to 
tell.  It  is  not  of  idle  curiosity  that  I  ask." 

And  again  David  looked  up  for  another  look  of  that 
chin  and  perhaps  a  sparkle  of  the  fairy  eyes,  but  the 
veil  had  closed  again.  Then,  since  ever  has  the  female 
stimulated  the  male  by  draping  that  on  which  he  would 
gaze  on,  David  straightway  desired  very  much  indeed 
to  catch  that  sparkle  once  more.  The  sparkle  of 
bright  eyes  was  a  new  phenomenon,  and  one  that  seemed 
worth  exploring. 

"  Lady,  your  brother  the  Sirdar,  to  whom  I  have 
promised  allegiance,  knows  something  of  my  history, 
and  there  is  no  reason  why  I  should  not  tell  you.  I 
am  a  Feringhi,  a  Christian  Frank,  who  seeks  fortune 
among  soldiers  with  his  horse  and  his  sword." 

"  Then  why  do  you  not  serve  the  Company,  Sahib 
Bahadur,  like  the  other  Franks  ?  You  are  Angrez,  are 
you  not  ?  " 

"  No,  Lady,  I  am  but  half  Angrez,  or  Feringhi,  My 
mother  was  an  Afghani." 

"  Then  you  are  of  the  true  faith  ?  " 

"  No,  Lady,  not  as  you  mean  it.  I  am  not  of  the 
faith  of  Islam.  My  mother  was  of  Islam,  but  became 
of  my  father's  faith,  to  follow  the  Holy  One  of  Nazareth, 
of  whom  Islam  says, '  Aleh  Salaam ,'  "  * 

*  "  On  whom  peace." 


ALIABAD  SEEAI  71 

"  Yea,  I  have  heard  of  the  Hdzdrdt  Iswi  Aleli  Salaam  I 
and  our  priests  say  women  have  no  souls,  so  what  does 
it  matter  ?  I  once  heard  that  the  Christians  say  that 
women  have  souls  as  well  as  men." 

"  My  mother,  Lady,  was  ever  happy  as  a  Christian, 
and  the  English  padre  sahib  often  came  to  see  her  and 
to  pray  with  her  when  she  was  ill." 

"  Tell  me  more,  then,  of  your  mother  and  the  English; 
and  the  padre  that  prayed  with  a  woman." 

So  David  found  himself  chatting  away  of  his  child- 
hood and  his  father,  of  Danny  Irvine  the  artillery 
batman,  of  the  soldiers  and  guns  of  the  English  canton- 
ments, and  of  his  delicate  Afghan  mother  who  had 
worshipped  her  husband  and  son  and  had  been  wor- 
shipped in  return. 

Miriam  understood  how  she  had  worshipped  her  son; 
and  the  son  his  mother ;  but  the  care  and  love  of  the 
father  for  his  wife,  the  only  woman  about  him,  that 
failed  to  strike  a  note  of  recognition  in  her  conception 
of  life.  The  devouring  flame  of  the  love  of  man  for 
woman'  she  understood  or  had  ken  of  in  the  burning 
Persian  poems  that  the  strolling  singers  sang  and  her 
old  nurse  crooned.  Ephemeral  as  the  day,  short  as 
the  summer's  night,  was  the  wooing  and  the  passion  of 
a  Persian  ballad.  The  lover  rode  away  to  conquests 
new  and  wives  afresh,  while  the  woman  remained  to 
cherish  a  child  that  became  all  that  life  held  for  her — 
"  bangles  ring  softly  and  sadly,"  She  knew  by  hear- 
say of  the  "  tender  ruth  "  of  man  to  woman  in  the 
Central  Asian  plateaus.  She  knew,  too,  of  strong; 
stern  wives  who  ruled  their  lords'  castles  and  retainers 
and  junior  wives  by  sheer  force  of  character  and  gift 
of  power.  But  that  the  rapture  of  the  love-song  should 
be  followed  by  peace  and  protection  till  evensong  was 
a  new  conception;  and  she  must  hear  more  of  it, 

Therefore    the  ice  once  broken,  she  became  the 


72  A  FEEELANCE  IN   KASHMIK 

natural  curious  maiden  demanding  information  of  the 
stranger  as  simply  as  she  would  have  questioned  Amah 
Jan,  her  nurse  and  maid.  And  the  good,  simple  David 
walked  at  her  side  answering  her  questions  truly  and 
naturally,  quite  forgetting  how  incongruous  it  all  was. 
But  then,  perhaps,  after  all,  it  was  not  incongruous ,  for 
a  man  is  made  for  a  maid  all  the  world  over,  and  high 
converse  is  the  gift  of  the  Gods. 

"  Then  your  father  had  no  other  wives  ?  "  queried 
Miriam,  lest  she  had  not  understood  aright. 

"  The  Christians  only  have  one  wife." 

"  What  do  they  do  when  she  is  old  or  sick  ?  " 

"  They  take  care  of  her,  at  least  the  good  ones  do. 
My  father  took  more  care  of  my  mother  the  feebler  she 
became." 

"  I  must  tell  old  Amah  Jan  that,"  mused  Miriam. 
"  She  always  said  men  care  naught  for  women  when 
they  are  ill,  unless  they  are  bearing  sons.  But  your 
father  married  again  when  she  died  ?  " 

"  Nay,  Lady.    He  mourned  for  her  all  his  life." 

"  Amah  will  never  believe  that.  She  says  no  man 
grieves  for  a  woman  save  the  woman  he  cannot  possess. 
Are  all  the  English  the  same  ?  "  she  added. 

"All  the  English  I  knew.  There  were  English 
ladies  in  the  cantonment  who  came  to  see  my  mother. 
Their  husbands  all  treated  them  well,  and  they  came 
and  went  as  they  liked.  Some  were  old  and  some  were 
young,  but  it  did  not  make  much  difference.  Every 
one  was  as  courteous  to  the  old  as  well  as  to  the 
young." 

"  It  is  all  very  hard  to  believe.  Tell  me  now  of  the 
padre  who  used  to  come.  We  see  the  priests  at  times, 
and  we  pay  them  money,  but  they  regard  us  as  of  no 
importance." 

'  The  padre,  the  chaplain,  as  they  call  him,  came 
regularly  to  see  my  mother,  and  talked  with  her  of  the 


ALIABAD  SEEAI  78 

God  of  the  English,  and  of  His  Son;  and  she  used  to 
tell  it  all  to  me  when  he  had  gone.  There  was  always 
something  new  to  tell,  though  she  had  learnt  enough  to 
become  a  Christian  soon  after  my  father  married  her." 

"  Tell  me  how  your  father  came  to  marry  your 
mother.  Did  he  buy  her,  as  the  Persians  do  ?  " 

"  My  lady,  'tis  a  curious  story,  and  the  English 
ladies  loved  to  hear  it,  and  my  mother  would  herself 
tell  it  to  those  she  liked.  Her  father  was  the  Sirdar 
Ghaur  Khan,  Suddozai,  of  Ghor,  who  had  ridden  with 
two  hundred  of  his  clan  to  join  his  relatives  the 
Rohillas.  After  the  Abdalli  had  beaten  the  Marathas 
at  Panipat,  he  rode  through  Hindostan  for  many 
years,  living  at  his  ease  on  the  country,  always  meaning 
to  found  a  state,  but  ever  loving  better  to  roam.  My 
mother  had  ridden  at  his  saddle-bow  ever  since  she 
could  remember,  as  when  she  was  older  on  an  Arab 
horse  by  his  side,  in  front  of  his  Amirs.  Then  there 
was  war  with  the  English,  and  a  big  battle.  She  was 
in  the  middle  of  it,  and  the  Afghans  were  destroyed. 
My  mother  and  her  horse  were  carried  away  by  some 
irregular  trooper  in  the  Company's  Horse.  An  English 
Sahib,  hearing  screams,  rode  after  her,  and  took  her 
from  the  troopers.  She  was  lodged  in  all  honour  in  a 
tent  of  his,  and  marched  for  three  days  with  the 
political  retinue.  Then  my  father  came  to  her  and 
said  he  wanted  to  marry  her.  She  wept  for  her  father 
and  relatives,  but  said  she  was  his  slave,  and  it  must 
be  as  he  wished,  according  to  custom.  They  were 
married  according  to  English  custom  by  the  political 
officer,  and  then  she  marched  with  him  north  and  south 
for  ten  years,  right  down  through  the  Deccan,  and 
when  I  was  nine  years  old,  to  the  capture  of  Seringa- 
patam  with  Lord  Cornwallis;,  the  great  English  General. 
After  that  the  wars  were  over,  and  we  lived  in  English 
cantonments  and  were  very  happy." 


74  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

"  And  did  your  mother  know  the  English  ladies  ?  " 

"  My  mother  was  just  as  they  were,  controlling  my 
father's  household,  and  entertaining  his  guests,  though 
she  ever  loved  to  be  alone.  Once  the  great  Governor- 
General  of  the  English  came  to  see  her  and  invited  her 
to  come  with  my  father  to  his  house." 

"  And  did  she  go  ?  " 

"  Surely,  lady,  surely.  She  went  in  all  honour  after 
the  English  custom,  and  sat  at  the  lord's  table,  and 
even  danced  with  him  at  his  big  reception." 

"  I've  heard  of  this  dancing  among  the  English ;  my 
nurse  had  a  friend  who  had  been  in  an  English  station 
once,  but  I  do  not  understand  it.  But  the  way  of  the 
English  women,  it  is  wonderful !  Your  father  had  no 
other  wives  ?  " 

"  No  ;  did  I  not  say  that  the  English  never  marry 
more  than  one  at  a  time  ?  " 

"  H'm !  perhaps  they  are  wise  there,  but  to  rule  a 
man  all  your  life,  and  to  have  no  young  wives,  with 
their  impudent  ways  when  you  grow  old  I  It  is  very 
wonderful.  Once  there  came  to  Birmal  an  old  man  ; 
he  was  a  story-teller,  and  played  a  wavering  pipe. 
He  was  allowed  to  come  to  us  women  and  play.  He 
said  that  there  was  only  the  one  real  love,  and  the  one 
real  life.  Perhaps  he  meant  what  the  English  mean. 
My  cousin  Anari  said  it  was  a  poor  man  that  would  be 
content  with  the  one  wife,  and  for  her  part  she  would 
think  little  enough  of  him.  And  the  other  English 
ladies,  were  -they  held  in  the  same  esteem  as  your 
mother  ?  " 

"  More  or  less.  Always  with  honour  and  alone,  but 
perhaps  my  father  cared  for  my  mother  more  than 
most ;  but  then  he  knew  she  must  be  lonely  among  a 
strange  people.  He  told  me  so  after  she  died." 

"  Prutt !  a  woman  has  no  people  when  she  marries. 
We  Afghanis  leave  our  homes  and  go  away  with  our 


ALIABAD  SEEAI  75 

lords,  and  no  one  misses  us,  or  cares,  and  our  lord  may 
do  as  he  likes,  though  for  all  that  some  of  us  can  hold 
our  own.  Your  father  married  again,  of  course  ?  " 

"  Nay,  lady.  He  just  mourned  for  my  mother  tho 
rest  of  his  days." 

To  this  Miriam  said  nothing,  but  David  saw  her 
eyes  once  more,  as  she  looked  at  him  to  see  if  he  spoke 
the  truth.  Then,  as  if  satisfied,  she  said — 

"  That  I  will  tell  to  Yar  Khan,  who  always  tells  me 
that  women  are  of  no  account,  and  that  one  is  as  good, 
or,  as  he  thinks  it,  as  bad  as  another.  He  thinks 
nothing  but  his  horse  soldiers  and  the  rupee  bags  in 
my  brother's  treasury  are  of  any  import.  I'll  just  tell 
him  how  the  English  ladies  are  treated.  No  ;  you 
shall  tell  him.  He  will  only  just  crink  his  pock-bitten 
eyebrows  at  me.  I  hate  the  ugly  man  !  " 

"  But  Yar  Khan  must  be  a  very  firm  and  faithful 
servant  to  you  and  your  brother. 

"  Yes,  he  is,  really.  My  brother  trusts  him  I  know, 
beyond  all.  They  have  been  together  many  years. 
Long  before  he  came  to  Kashmir,  when  I  was  a  girl  in 
Birmal,  we  heard  how  Yar  Khan  stood  by  my  brother, 
when  those  wolves'  heads  the  Abazai  drove  him  from 
Jellalabad.  Oh  yes,  I  trust  him  too,  but  he  always 
makes  me  feel  so  very  small.  No,  I  don't  hate  him 
either,  for  once  I  lost  my  pet  lamb  over  the  cliffs  of  the 
Zogi-la;  when  we  were  returning  from  Iskardu,  it 
was  old  Sirdar  Yar  Khan  that  slung  himself  over  in  a 
grass  rope  to  rescue  it.  He  knows,  too,  that  I  hate  to 
see  animals  killed,  and  will  not  allow  animals  to  be 
hallaled  *  when  I  am  there.  Perhaps  he  thinks  no 
Afghani  should  shrink  from  blood  and  pain.  Surely 
it  is  always  round  us.  When  I  think  of  all  the  stories 


*  Hallal  —  made  lawful  food  ;   i.e.  have   their  throats  cut. 
Muhammadan  only  eata  meat  when  thua  killed. 


76  A  FBEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

old  Amah  tells  us,  I  long  for  peace,  and  a  world  where 
the  men  cease  from  slaughter.  Now  what  you  tell 
me  of  your  life  with  the  English  sounds  of  a  new 
world.  Yet  they  too  are  terrible  in  battle." 

"  They  are  always  victorious,  true  lady.  But  I've 
heard  men  say  they  ever  fight  for  the  right  and  protect 
the  poor.  Justice  they  give  I  know,  and  they  prize 
truth  and  honour." 

"  Then  why,  Ferassa  Sahib,  have  you  left  them  ?  " 

"  I  left  them,  Lady  Miriam,  sadly,  because  they  love 
not  the  mixed  race.  I,  who  am  descended  from 
princes  on  my  father's  and  my  mother's  side,  care  not 
to  be  looked  down  on  as  a  half-breed.  They  offered 
to  make  me  an  officer  in  their  army,  but  I  heard  two 
of  them  talking  of  me,  kindly  enough,  but  with  pity  as 
a  half-breed.  So  out  into  the  world  come  I,  lady,  as 
I  told  you,  to  hack  my  own  way  to  power,  and  a  name, 
with  my  father's  sword  and  his  father's  pistols,  and 
naught  else  save  only  the  Holy  Book,  that  my  father 
gave  my  mother  when  she  was  baptized.  Belike  I 
shall  be  the  first  and  the  last  half-breed  of  the  House  of 
Ghor,  or  of  the  Fraser  Kiwi.*  That,  Lady  Miriam, 
is  my  story." 

And  Miriam  sat  silent,  her  veil  tight  drawn;  and  her 
shapely  head  bent  in  thought,  and  in  her  heart  she 
hoped,  she  very  ardently  hoped,  that  this  fine  young 
man  might  come  by  his  own.  Did  she  think  that  he 
and  she  might  share  the  life  of  the  English  ?  She  to  be 
tended  and  cared  for  in  her  old  age,  and  not  turned  out 
a-catching  camels,  when  no  longer  a  light  o'  the  harem  ? 
Not  she,  she  thought  not  at  all  of  such  things.  The 
Afghani  is  not  lightly  introspective  or  sentimental 
No  !  but  she  did  think  that  she  would  like  to  let  Yar 
Khan  know  how  some  folk  regarded  women. 

*  Clan. 


ALIABAD  SEEAI  77 

Then,  as  the  cavalcade  crested  a  southern  spur  they 
came  on  a  stony  patch  whence  the  snow  had  melted; 
and  the  herbage  was  sprouting — green  down-grass 
and  saxifrage,  a  tulip,  and  a  wild  violet. 

"  See,  Sahib,  see  !  "  she  cried.  "  An  omen  !  an 
omen  !  The  Prophet's  flower.  The  paighaniber  gul ! 
Success  to  all  who  see  it  first  in  the  season." 

Yes,  there  it  was  among  the  violets.  The  little  five- 
petalled  yellow  flower,  with  the  brown  spot  in  each 
petal,  where  men  say  the  Prophet  touched  it,  and 
blessed  it  for  its  promise  of  spring  and  life  after  winter. 
To  David  it  was  a  new  flower  and  a  new  story,  and  an 
omen  of  success,  since  beauty  and  youth  and  en- 
thusiasm called  it  so. 

By  now,  however,  the  sun  was  setting,  and  the  keen 
cold  wind  of  sundown  was  blowing  over  the  peaks. 
They  had  wound  over  the  top  of  the  pass,  and  the  cairn 
of  stones,  each  contributed  by  a  wayfarer,  and  were 
descending  a  spur  and  the  side  of  a  gully.  Turning  a 
comer  suddenly,  thousands  of  feet  below,  lay  the  whole 
of  the  valley  of  Kashmir  itself,  streaked  with  the 
great  purple  shadows  thrown  by  the  Pir  Panjal  peaks. 
The  cool  keen  air  swept  up  the  gully,  and  beautiful 
Miriam  threw  back  her  veil  to  drink  it  in,  and  let  it 
play  with  her  braided  hair.  So  David  the  Scotto- 
Afghan  gazed  his  full  on  that  clear-cut  profile  and 
the  pale  olive  skin  with  the  red  blood  mantling 
under  the  cheek.  A  long,  straight  nose,  delicate  red 
lips,  and  a  regular  well-curved  chin  and  clean-bred 
throat,  showed  the  well-born  maid  of  a  race  of  rulers. 
And  David  saw  that  the  maid  was  good,  and  worthy 
of  service  after  the  manner  of  the  Franks.  Also  had 
he  been  deeper  read  in  the  world's  history;,  he  might 
have  believed  from  that  regular  profile,  the  tale  of 
Alexander  of  Macedon  and  his  Graeco-Bactrian  colonies. 
Women  of  such  contour  danced  on  the  Frieze  of  the 


78  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

Parthenon;  and  on  the  carvings  on  the  temples  in 
Eusafzai.  But  then  David  knew  not  the  history  of 
Bactria.  It  was  enough  for  him  that  the  picture  was 
good. 

Whether  the  breeze  struck  too  cold,  or  whether  Yar 
Khan's  advent,  from  his  place  at  the  head  of  the 
cavalcade,  was  the  cause,  the  vision  was  quickly  veiled 
again.  Neither  pearls  before  swine  nor  beauty  for 
weather-beaten  masters  of  horse,  are  well  revealed. 

The  night's  halt  had  now  been  reached.  A  castellated 
serai  was  before  them  on  a  bare  stony  spur,  with 
Edelweiss  growing  among  the  rocks.  The  serai,  once 
the  comfortable  hostel  of  the  Emperors  of  Delhi,  was 
now  half  ruined,  and  drafty,  but  even  so,  better  shelter 
than  tents.  The  outer  wall,  too,  would  protect  the 
horses  from  the  night  wind.  Miriam  and  her  women 
repaired  to  an  inner  room,  Yar  Khan  and  Fraser  to  a 
small  outhouse,  and  the  troopers  tethered  their  horses, 
and  lit  fires  of  logs  and  fir  cones  round  against  the  wall, 
while  the  caretaker  and  his  assistant  hurried  to  catch 
goats  to  milk,  and  issued  hay  from  a  stack  in  the  yard. 
Soldiers  and  horses  soon  settled  down  to  rest,  and  when 
David  strolled  over  to  his  men,  the  horses  were  already 
eating,  and  fires  burning  merrily.  -Ganesha  Singh 
hurried  up  to  report  all  well,  and  discuss  the  affairs  of 
the  troop,  while  Gul  Jan  carried  off  his  master's 
sword  and  holsters,  and  went  over  to  the  quarters  to 
get  the  bedding  unrolled, 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE   PILGRIM   HOSTS 

WHILE  Miriam  and  David  Eraser  climbed  the  Pir 
Panjal,  and  Toorks  intrigued  within  the  Holy  City,  a 
vast  pilgrim  host  was  making  its  way  to  the  Sind 
Valley  and  thence  to  the  icebound  Lake  of  Gangarbal. 
That  great  mysterious  search  for  peace  and  hope 
that  the  world  is  always  engaged  in,  was  here  in  active 
progress.  Tens  of  thousands  of  the  simple  folk  of 
the  countryside  over  whose  heads  the  wars  of  Maratha 
and  Mogul  and  Afghan  rolled  disregarded,  save  as 
men  regard  plague  and  cholera,  were  hastening  eagerly 
to  the  shrine  of  forgiveness  among  the  snows  of 
Haramukh  and  the  Mountain  Tarn.  The  hosts  of 
the  freelances,  the  mailed  squadrons  of  the  emperors, 
swept  by,  carrying  off  corn  and  cattle  and  such  maids 
as  they  lusted,  and  ever  the  people  went  on  their  way 
and  struggled  to  live  and  to  multiply.  The  sun  and 
the  rain  in  due  season,  and  the  rest  is  the  will  of  God  ! 
And  now  at  this  season  of  the  year  was  to  be  found 
that  peace  and  promise  of  redemption  that  the  heart 
of  man  ever  searches  for  ;  that  desire  and  promise 
that  lays  somewhere  at  the  back  of  all  the  creeds. 
The  peasant  and  even  the  traders  had  left  their  shacks 
and  their  booths  and  come  tramping  up  from  the  plains 
of  India  and  through  the  passes  and  over  the  snows 
of  the  outer  Himalaya.  Old  and  young,  men  and 

79 


80  A  FREELANCE   IN   KASHMIR 

matrons,  lads  and  maidens,  cowherds  and  farmers, 
fishers  and  spearsmen,  ascetic  and  faqir  parents 
and  children,  "  un  qui  march  un  qui  tette  un  qui  vient" 
streamed  out  of  the  Holy  City  and  up  from  Baramula 
and  over  the  Pir  through  Shapyon,  and  down  the  valley 
from  Verinag,  while  Islam  watched  and  wondered. 
For  the  great  mass  of  Kashmir  folk  had  long  been 
converted  by  the  victor's  sword  to  the  superior  and 
comforting  faith  of  the  prophet,  and  looked  with 
amused  scorn  on  the  great  struggling  eager  masses  of 
Hinduism,  wrapt  up  in  a  faith  that  could  lead  them 
away  to  the  infinite.  Past  the  ruined  Pandav  temples 
that  spoke  of  the  ancient  faith,  past  the  almond 
orchards,  past  the  great  mosques  of  the  only  God,  out 
on  to  the  karewa  plateau,  and  the  dog  rose  and  the  wild 
thyme  and  the  iris  bloom  tramped  the  crowd  of 
pilgrims. 

"  Come  brothers  come  for  the  snows  are  far 
Come  brothers  come  to  the  healing  shrine 
Come  brothers  come  for  the  peace  that  endures," 

cry  the  priests  to  the  swelling  crowds. 

And  among  the  jostling  eager  folk  on  the  Haramukh 
road  from  the  Holy  City,  swung  and  lurched  a  screened 
litter  on  the  shoulders  of  four  bearers.  In  the  litter 
sat  discreetly  attired  the  comely  figure  of  the  Begum 
Allah  Visayah.  But  why  should  beauty  frail  go  to 
the  shrine  by  the  Lake  of  Gangarbal  amid  the  snows 
of  Haramukh  ?  "  Felix  qui  potuit  rerum  cognoscere 
causas"  Above  all,  why  should  a  Muhammadan  lady, 
good,  bad,  or  indifferent,  seek  peace  at  a  shrine  of 
an  alien  creed  ?  And  the  answer  would  seem  to  be 
that  Allah  Visayah  was  but  taking  time  by  the  forelock. 
She  had  promised  for  due  reward,  that  the  Kommadan 
of  the  Regiment  of  Victory,  which  held  the  Fort  of 
Hari  Parbat,  should  deliver  it  up  that  night  to  the 


THE  PILGEIM  HOSTS  81 

retainers  of  Altamish.  But  she  was  not  quite  sure  that 
her  influence  would  make  a  man  put  his  head  into  a 
noose  till  he  was  quite  sure  that  that  noose  would 
not  draw  tight.  Also  she  had  further  dipped  her 
hands  into  the  waters  of  bewilderment  by  encouraging 
Habib  Ullah  to  ride  post  haste  to  find  Salabat  Khan's 
party  and  tell  them  of  the  business  afoot.  So  Allah 
Visayah,  self-styled  begum,  though  she  was  well  enough 
placed  whatever  befell,  had  thought  that  she  might 
be  better  away  for  a  while  from  the  holy  city  of 
Srinagar.  If  the  Kommadan  should  fail  to  deliver 
over  his  fort,  so  much  the  better  for  the  official  party, 
and  Habib  Ullah  was  her  slave.  If  the  Kommadan 
did  come  over  to  Altamish,  so  much  the  richer  would 
Allah  Visayah  be. 

To  rid  Srinagar  of  her  presence  therefore  unnoticed, 
the  Begum  had  called  for  her  litter,  and  had  mixed 
with  the  stream  of  pilgrims  hurrying  away  to  the 
shrines  and  snows  of  Haramukh.  Outside  the  suburbs 
a  curtained  bullock  hackery  awaited  her.  But  shrines 
and  rocky  paths  would  not  be  for  her.  She  would 
march  with  the  crowd  for  a  stage  or  more  to  the  foot 
of  the  ascent  and  then  turn  her  fat  bullocks  and  her 
fat  comely  self  off  to  a  small  farm  she  owned  on  the 
beautiful  Sind  river. 

The  tramp  of  the  pilgrims,  and  the  grinding  of  the 
hackery  wheels  of  the  few  who  made  the  first  part  of 
the  journey  in  a  conveyance,  mingled  with  the  grunting 
and  grumbling  of  camels,  the  yelping  of  pariahs  as 
the  crowd  streamed  through  the  green  plains  and  level 
upland  karewas,  past  willow  beds  and  almond  orchards 
to  the  Sind.  Away  on  the  river  crowds  of  boats  were 
bringing  their  loads  by  water  a  portion  of  the  journey. 

As  the  evening  neared  and  the  sinking  sun  crimsoned 
the  snowy  peaks  of  Haramukh  and  the  Zogi-lah,  the 
wayfarers  halted  for  the  night  by  the  roadside,  when 

G 


82  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

and  where  they  listed,  so  that  fires  twinkled  on  all 
sides  in  the  growing  gloom.  At  each  bivouac  beggars 
rattled  their  gourds  and  begged  for  food.  Here  under 
a  willow  tree  life  and  death  were  struggling.  A 
peasant  family  had  halted,  father  and  children,  while 
the  mother  struggled  with  the  pangs  of  labour.  The 
un  qui  vient  had  been  insistent.  The  mother  had 
sank  under  a  tree  and  a  coloured  cotton  sheet  had 
been  stretched  from  the  willow  to  the  peasant's  iron-shod 
bamboo  thrust  into  the  ground.  The  children  hunted 
frogs  in  the  marsh  hard  by,  and  the  father  sat  silent 
under  the  tree,  wondering  if  his  wife  would  die  and  her 
ghost  haunt  him,  as  Hindoo  mothers'  ghosts  who  die 
in  childbed  haunt  Hindu  fathers,  with  their  feet 
turned  backward.  That  is  how  you  know  a  cfiurel,  the 
poor  feet  are  turned  backward,  and  they  are  very  bitter 
toward  menfolk. 

Allah  Visayah's  hackery  rumbled  past  the  pathetic 
little  bivouac.  One  of  the  children  was  crying,  and 
the  lady  looking  out  between  her  red  silk  curtains 
divined  what  was  in  process.  Now  to  belong  to  what 
has  been  called  the  oldest  profession  in  the  world, 
is  not  necessarily  to  have  lost  the  sense  of  humanity, 
nor  of  some  of  the  essentials  of  womanliness.  There 
are  some  worse  attributes  of  the  human  sex  than 
mere  mercenary  love.  Away  on  the  farm  to  which  she 
was  taking  herself,  in  charge  of  a  gnarled  and  doting 
old  noonoo,  was  a  small  son  of  her  own,  who  was  an 
undoubted  child  of  hers  whatever  its  paternity  might 
be.  So  the  comfortable  Messalina  of  the  Holy  City 
slipped  out  of  her  cart  to  do  her  best  for  the  peasant 
mother,  like  any  other  kindly  old  woman  of  the  town, 
by  which  act  we  may  hope  she  acquired  something  on 
the  credit  side  of  her  life  record. 

Troubles  pass  quickly  in  peasant  life.  The  Begum 
was  soon  back  in  her  cart,  after  giving  sweets  to  the 


THE  PILGEIM  HOSTS  83 

children,  and  the  mother  had  said  she  would  be  up 
and  on  her  way  in  the  morning  with  the  new-comer 
on  her  back,  while  the  frightened  mumbling  father 
stood  praying  to  escape  the  cliurel,  too  scared  to  even 
thank  the  stranger.  But  Alathea  of  the  housetops 
continued  on  her  way,  with  that  feeling  of  satisfac- 
tion which  stirs  all  who  do  good  actions,  and  none 
more  so  than  the  habitual  evil  liver.  Back  in  her 
hackery,  she  reclined  and  drowsed  within  her  curtains 
smoking  her  bubbling  rosewater  Imqa  and  the  onyx- 
eyed  bullocks  shuffled  on  in  the  soft  twilight  with 
which  the  rising  moon  was  mingling.  The  clang  of 
the  beggars'  gourds  and  chains  and  the  murmur  of 
the  pilgrims  had  soon  died  away,  and  the  jagged 
outlines  of  the  peaks  of  Haramukh  stood  up  clear 
and  cold  and  deep  black  violet  against  the  evening 
sky,  while  peace  unutterable  fell  on  the  land. 

But  once  more  fate  was  to  bring  her  naughtiness 
to  the  aid  of  the  stricken.  The  bullocks  stopped 
suddenly,  and  ran  out  all  ways  as  bullocks  will,  and 
the  Begum  woke  up  with  a  jerk  and  demanded  angrily 
what  was  the  matter. 

'•'  Have  we  reached  our  destination  ?  Can  you  see 
my  kotlii  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"  Nay,  lady,  nay,"  answered  her  servants.  "  'Tis 
but  the  bullocks  shying  at  some  man  who  lies  in  the 
way." 

"  Drive  on  then  !  Drive  on  !  "  she  called.  "  Drive 
on,  over  the  sleepy  beast." 

And  Pandoo  the  bullock-driver  smote  each  bullock 
with  a  stick,  and  screwed  their  tails  in  their  sockets 
till  they  attempted  to  leap  forward  over  the  obstruction. 

Then  suddenly  a  tall  white  figure  leapt  up,  and 
waved  its  arms  in  front  of  them  and  shouted. 

"  Nom  de  Dieu  !  Arretez  !  Arretez  I  Stop  !  Keep 
those  cursed  bullocks  back,  I  say  ! '! 


64  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

The  white  figure  drew  itself  up  to  a  great  height,  and 
on  its  forehead  shone  out  in  the  darkness  a  lambent 
living  cross.  The  bullock  driver  leapt  from  his  perch 
on  the  pole  of  the  cart,  into  the  wild  rose  scrub  at 
the  side  of  the  road.  Here  at  last  really  was  the 
devil,  after  all  the  charms  he  had  bought  to  keep  him 
away  !  The  Begum  again  poked  her  head  through 
her  curtains  and  called  to  her  servants  for  a  light. 
A  torch  was  lit  after  some  fumbling,  and  a  trembling 
domestic  brought  it  round  to  the  side  of  the  conveyance. 
Then  she  looked  out  again  and  saw  astride  a  prostrate 
form  a  tall  white  figure  with  a  black  skull  cap  on 
his  head,  a  long  white  cassock  girt  with  a  camel  hair 
rope,  and  on  the  forehead  the  fiery  flaming  cross. 
Then  she  knew  her  man.  It  was  surely  the  white 
Padre  of  whom  men  spoke  who  had  come  no  man 
knew  whence,  to  heal  the  sick  in  Kashmir,  and  who 
dwelt  unmolested  in  a  hovel  near  the  mosque  of  Shah 
Hamadan.  She  had  heard  people  speak  of  a  Christian 
priest  with  whom  no  one  interfered,  and  of  whom  all 
spoke  good,  even  the  moollalis  of  Islam  in  the  city. 

Since  all  men  were  fish  to  her  net  she  decided  to 
speak  the  new-comer  fair.  She  was  on  the  best  of 
terms  with  the  moollahs  of  the  mosque  near  her  house, 
and  would  even  contribute  to  a  new  levy  on  behalf 
of  their  shrines.  The  Hindu  priests  of  the  temple 
allowed  her  to  provide  marigolds  and  incense  and 
milk  and  ghee  for  their  linga.  Even  the  holy  ascetic 
in  the  garden  under  the  Takht-i-Suleiman,  had  once 
called  her  sister  when  she  had  taken  her  small  son 
to  see  the  goldfish  in  his  tank.  It  would  be  part  of  her 
good-natured  business  to  make  friends  with  this  new 
form  of  priest  also,  for  who  knows  when  her  little 
Dundoo  might  need  doctoring  beyond  the  ordinary. 

So  Allah  Visayah  swallowed  her  annoyance  at  being 
jerked  from  her  sleep  and  stopped  again  on  her  road, 


THE  PILGEIM  HOSTS  85 

and  asked  the  stranger  in  her  most  honeyed  voice 
what  had  befallen,  and  whether  she  could  help. 

Jean  Armande  St.  Hilaire  du  Plessis,  late  Abbe  of 
St.  Marie  aux  Chenes  in  the  Province  of  the  Loire, 
and  member  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  abandoned  his 
angry  attitude  and  stepped  forward  courteously  at  the 
sound  of  a  female  voice.  Ten  years  at  the  Court  of 
Versailles,  an  intime  at  the  Petit  Triannon,  a  woman's 
voice  and  its  tones  he  understood  right  well.  Many  a 
high-born  dame  had  he  comforted  and  cautioned  through 
life,  and  conducted  to  her  stoic  end  in  the  tumbrils 
of  Danton.  The  women  he  confessed  through  weal 
and  woe,  the  men  he  had  quarrelled  with  and  shriven 
beneath  La  Veuve,  had  loved  and  trusted  Armande 
du  Plessis,  for  his  patience,  his  kindliness,  and  his  clear; 
ringing  voice.  "  Au  nom  du  pere,  et  dufils  et  du  sante 
esprit  ainsi  soil  il,"  and  the  high-born  head  had  dropped 
still  smiling  into  the  dripping  basket.  The  last  of 
his  friends  gone,  he  waited  but  his  own  order  of  release 
in  the  squalid  Conciergerie.  Then  a  brawl  among  his 
guards  ;  some  dying  wretch  who  remembered  the  old 
religion  had  craved  for  a  priest,  and  Armande  St. 
Hilaire  du  Plessis  had  found  himself  outside  the 
jail,  with  some  one  whispering  a  promise  of  life.  With 
five  aristocrats  snatched  from  the  guillotine  he  found 
himself  sailing  for  India,  his  friends  to  sell  their  swords, 
he,  the  finest  swordsman  of  them  all,  to  seek  peace  of 
mind  as  a  priest  among  infidels.  From  shrine  to  shrine 
he  had  journeyed  as  a  begging  friar  might  wander, 
ever  north  with  the  pilgrims,  till  he  found  his  knowledge 
of  drugs  and  simples  was  taking  him  where  his  crucifix 
failed.  The  year  1792  had  brought  him  to  Kashmir, 
at  first  a  tolerated  and  now  a  venerated  physician,  a 
recluse  and  an  ascetic,  and  as  such  ever  venerable  to 
the  Eastern  mind.  In  that  upland  valley  of  the  great 
Himalaya,  the  abode  of  Snow,  ho  had  found  a  link  with 


86  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIK 

Christianity,  in  that  sanio  mosquo  already  referred 
to,  in  the  shape  of  a  legendary  tornb  of  an  uncrucified 
Christ.  To  trace  the  origin  of  that  strange  story 
had  been  one  of  his  pursuits.  That  he  was  not  the 
first  to  do  so  he  conjectured,  for  on  the  current  cliilki 
rupees  of  the  kingdom  cut  deep  in  the  obverse  stood 
among  Persian  and  Sanscrit  letters,  the  initials  of 
the  great  watchword,  "  In  Hoc  Signo  Vinces,"  the 
motto  of  those  who  raise,  as  he  so  often  raised,  the 
Cross  to  the  high  heavens.  Some  predecessor  in 
the  valley  had  no  doubt  been  responsible  for  the 
letters,  I.  H.  S.,  cut  clear  for  all  the  world  to  see,  on 
the  Kashmir  rupees  ancient  and  mint  new.  Therefore 
the  Abbe  felt  himself  not  alone  in  his  land  of  exile. 
Some  one  had  trod  the  path  before,  to  gain  influence 
as  he  would  gain  it,  to  heal  as  he  would  heal,  and 
had  left  the  Master's  mark  cut  into  the  mould  of 
Time. 

"  Madame,"  said  the  Abbe,  "  see  !  Here  lies  one 
who  needs  our  help.  No  woman's  heart  can  pass  him 
by."  And  taking  the  torch  from  the  Begum's  servant, 
he  held  it  high  as  he  had  held  the  crucifix.  There 
across  the  road,  effectually  closing  it  to  horse  and 
vehicle,  lay  a  most  pitiful  mass  of  rags  and  corruption. 
How  it  had  crawled  there  was  a  puzzle.  Two  toeless 
feet  wrapped  in  such  strips  of  cloth  as  pilgrims  tie  to 
the  branches  above  a  shrine,  drummed  on  the  roadway 
in  agony.  Two  fingerless  stumps  were  flung  out  over 
the  abject's  head,  and  the  noseless  face  emitted  low 
moans  forged  on  anvils  hot  with  pain.  Tied  round 
the  waist  by  a  camel  hair  cord  like  that  which  girded 
the  Jesuit  was  a  brass  herd  bell  that  told  of  the  miser- 
able's  approach.  It — you  could  not  say  he — was  a 
leper  of  the  lepers.  Unclean  !  Unclean  !  Nay,  worse, 
foul !  foul  to  horror  unimaginable. 

Allah  Visayah  drew  back  in  horror.    How  much 


THE  PILGKIM  HOSTS  87 

simpler  to  pass  the  mass  of  corruption  by  on  the  way- 
side. But  two  facts  forbade  that.  The  bullocks 
would  not  drive  on,  smite  the  charioteer  never  so 
cruelly,  and  Jean  du  Plessis,  anointed  Samaritan, 
meant  to  have  it  otherwise. 

The  gift  of  intuition  is  the  inherited  quality  of  the 
bad  woman  equally  with  the  good.  'Tis  perhaps  the 
extra  endowment  that  has  made  her  bad,  enabled  to 
read  deeper  into  the  evil  hearts  of  men.  Allah  Visayah 
saw  that  it  would  pay  her  to  play  the  lady  gentle. 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  the  gods  give  with  both  hands 
good  and  evil,  health  and  wealth,  pain  and  death. 
Close  here  is  a  poor  farm  of  mine.  I  have  sheds  and 
stacked  straw.  I  will  now  summon  some  of  my  people 
to  bring  this  " — and  here  she  hesitated  for  a  word — 
"  this  poor  man  in.  Ho  !  Maula  Baksh  !  Go  across 
to  the  jhok,  and  call  Peeroo  and  Pheeroo.  Tell  them 
to  bring  the  old  charpoy  out  of  the  maize  field,  the 
one  that  the  bird  scarer  sits  in.  Will  you  come  across, 
Eeverend  Sir,  to  my  poor  house  ?  " 

"  Nay,  sister,"  returned  the  priest.  "  We  will 
remain  and  see  this  our  brother  removed  to  your 
charitable  shelter.  You  have,  no  doubt,  some  distant 
out -house  where  he  may  be  sheltered,  and  which  can 
be  burnt  afterwards.  Or  perhaps  your  servants  can 
erect  a  lean-to  ?  " 

The  priest  knew  well  that  no  person  could  rightly 
be  expected  to  do  more.  It  is  God  or  nature,  not  man, 
taking  vengeance  for  oft-neglected  laws  that  makes 
the  leper  outcaste.  If  man  will  give  food  and  shelter, 
distant  temporary  shelter  it  is  the  most  that  can  be 
expected.  So  when  Peeroo  and  Pheeroo,  the  twin 
sweepers,  brought  the  charpoy  and  lifted  the  rags 
thereon,  they  had  done  more  than  most  of  their 
neighbours  would.  Then  accompanied  by  the  Abbe 
and  the  Begum  the  leper  was  conducted  across  to 


88  A  FREELANCE   IN   KASHMIR 

a  matting  hut,  and  given  such  food  and  drink  as  could 
be  made  available.  Allah  Visayah  then  promised 
that  he  should  remain  in  charge  of  her  sweepers  at 
her  expense  so  long  as  he  listed,  and  the  Abbe  smiled 
approval,  and  followed  her  to  the  lintel  of  her  own 
house,  where  the  child  Dundoo  was  awaiting  his 
mother. 

But  the  Abbe  had  not  come  to  the  jliok  for  conver- 
sation or  entertainment,  and  the  leper  was  beyond  all 
cure  of  mind  or  body,  save  the  comfort  of  food  and 
shelter.  If  this  could  be  assured,  either  at  his  expense 
or  the  lady's,  he  would  be  content  and  would  away  up  to 
the  pilgrims'  camp.  Allah  Visayah  agreed  that  he 
might  visit  the  leper  whenever  he  wished,  but  was 
anxious  that  he  should  tarry  awhile.  She  had  milk 
and  rice  and  hot  curry  ready,  and  all  that  a  weary  priest 
could  need.  Armande,  however,  would  have  nothing 
but  a  bowl  of  milk,  and  stayed  but  to  look  at  Dundoo's 
eyes,  fly-sore  like  so  many  children  in  the  East.  In 
his  wallet  he  had  a  remedy,  which  he  handed  over  to 
the  mother  and  then  sped  away.  The  Begum  was 
anxious  enough  that  he  should  stay,  but  to  him  her 
position  in  the  city  was  fairly  well  known,  and  her 
house  was  obviously  no  suitable  resting-place  for  a 
priestly  head.  So  out  once  more  into  the  night  he 
went,  the  phosphorescent  cross  still  flaming  on  his 
brow.  Five  years  ago  a  wandering  jaqir  had  shown 
him  how  to  put  on  flaming  castmarks  without  burning 
the  skin,  and  it  had  occurred  to  him  that  by  this 
means  he  might  connect  his  healing  powers  with 
a  popular  veneration  for  the  holy  sign.  Through  the 
length  and  breadth  of  Kashmir  and  far  away  back  to 
India  he  was  now  known  as  the  i?  Feringlii  padre  of  the 
flaming  Cross." 

And  this  is  the  story  of  how  priest  and  courtesan 
came  in  some  sort  to  be  allies. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE   GARDEN    OP   SWEET    BREEZES 

WHILE  Allah  Visayah  is  leaving  the  Holy  City  with  the 
pilgrims  and  scraping  a  chance  acquaintance  with  the 
Abbe  du  Plessis,  and  Yar  Khan  with  David  Fraser 
are  marching  in  to  Aliabad  serai,  the  doings  of  the 
Sirdar  Altamish  Khan  the  Toork  noble  must  not  be 
overlooked.  We  may  repair  to  the  country  residence 
of  the  influential  baron,  situated  beyond  the  apple 
orchards,  behind  the  Garden  of  Sweet  Breezes,  which 
lay  on  the  shores  of  Dhall  Lake.  There  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  day  on  which  we  have  seen  his  emissaries  hold 
high  converse  with  Allah  Visayah  in  her  house  on  the 
city  wall,  a  garden  party  was  in  progress.  To  it  had 
been  bidden  in  all  outward  simplicity  the  chief 
supporters  of  the  faction  of  the  Toork  against  the 
official  Afghan  party  of  the  Governor.  On  the  lawn 
among  the  almond  blossom  the  old  Toork  stood  to 
receive  his  guests,  who  came  over  the  lake  by  water, 
or  else  a-horseback  by  road.  And  every  one  who 
landed  was  first  received  by  one  Wali  Dad,  who  was 
the  official  receiver  of  guests  to  the  household,  and  also 
general  procurer  and  intriguer  to  the  same.  And  to 
each  of  the  guests  known  to  be  staunch  to  the  Toork 
pretensions  the  receiver  presented  a  small  bunch  of 
white  iris  with  the  request  that  it  might  be  worn 
in  the  puggari,  a  recognized  place  for  the  wearing 

89 


90  A  FKEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

of  emblems.  And  with  every  one  to  whom  such 
emblems  had  been  offered  it  would  not  be  indiscreet 
to  discuss  the  plans  in  immediate  progress.  The 
which  was  a  sign  and  a  portent. 

Up  and  down  the  green  turf  under  the  almond 
trees  strolled  the  guests,  while  their  host  chatted  with 
them  in  groups  or  drew  them  aside  in  turn.  The 
visitors  were  men  of  the  Toork  race  for  the  most 
part.  Almond  eyes  and  high  cheek  bones  showed 
clearly  Toork  or  else  Mogul  origin.  One  only  among 
them  with  his  little  knot  of  followers,  seemed  of 
different  race.  He  was  of  dour  and  saturnine  aspect 
with  an  eye  that  gleamed  under  deep  rough  caste  brows. 

To  all  who  bore  the  white  iris  in  their  headgear, 
Altamish  imparted  the  news;  gradually  manoeuvring 
them  down  the  main  line  of  the  garden  fountains  to 
where  a  small  causeway  led  to  a  marble  summer  house 
that  jutted  into  an  inlet  from  the  main  lake.  There 
they  were  safe  from  listeners,  and  the  city  rumour 
could  be  elaborated  to  exploit  the  Toork  designs. 
'Salabat  Khan  their  excellent  governor  lay  dead  the 
other  side  of  the  Pir  Panjal,  and  there  was  likely  to 
be  trouble  enough  in  their  beautiful  state  from  the 
evil-minded  among  them.  It  would  doubtless  be 
long  before  orders  should  corno  from  Imperial  head- 
quarters as  to  the  successor.  Unfortunately,  it  was 
rumoured  that  their  worthy  naib  and  wazir  the  Sirdar 
Yar  Khan  had  also  been  killed,  which  left  the  ship  of 
state  still  further  dismantled.  What  did  his  friends 
think  of  the  situation  and  so  forth  ? '  Before  long  it 
naturally  was  suggested  that  some  form  of  provisional 
government  had  better  be  formed,  lest  disorder  take 
place.  Then  it  was  also  natural,  seeing  how  Wali 
Dad,  whom  we  have  seen  earlier  in  the  day  at  the 
Begum  Allah  Visayah's,  had  duly  primed  suitable 
persons,  that  a  suggestion  should  be  put  forward  that 


THE  GAEDEN  OF  SWEET  BEEEZES     91 

the  Sirdar  Altamish  Khan  should  himself  in  the 
interests  of  the  province  and  of  the  Empire,  assume 
not  seize,  that  being  an  evil  word  .  .  .  should  assume 
the  position  of  governor.  What,  demanded  another  of 
Wali  Dad's  tamo  plotters,  should  be  done  if  there  was 
any  opposition  by  any  of  the  other  factions,  what  if 
any  of  the  functionaries  of  the  present  governor 
endeavour  to  usurp  power  ?  The  answer  was  unani- 
mous :  they  all  must  be  ready  to  support  Altamish 
Khan.  The  Khan  himself  now  thought  time  had 
arrived  to  take  a  lead. 

"  Nobles  and  gentles  of  Srinagar,  and  the  Kashmir 
valley,  may  the  star  of  your  fortune  never  set !  I 
gather  from  what  you  say  that  you  deem  it  in  the 
interests  of  the  Empire  that  I  should  assume  the 
governorship  in  the  place  of  our  lamented  Afghan 
Governor,  and  you  believe  that  I  shall  be  of  service 
to  the  province,  and  His  Majesty  the  Emperor.  I  am 
ready  to  do  as  you  call  on  me.  The  Kommadan  of 
the  Eegiment  of  Victory  has  also  sent  to  know  what  he 
is  to  do,  and  if  I  will  take  charge.  I  shall,  therefore, 
do  my  best.  Now  what  I  want  is  this.  I  want  five 
hundred  horse  and  a  hundred  foot  to  meet  mo  at  the 
garden  behind  the  Amiran  Kadal,  at  seven  a.m.  to- 
morrow morning.  We  will  then  proceed  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  Shergarhi  after  riding  through  the  city 
and  proclaiming  myself  as  temporary  Governor  of 
Kashmir.  I  shall  be  myself  in  the  fort  of  Hari  Parbat 
to-night,  and  that  will  be  my  headquarters.  Now, 
Murad  Beg,  what  force  will  your  honour  bring  to  my 
help  to-morrow  ?  " 

"  I  will  come  myself  with  my  son  here  and  bring 
one  hundred  horsed  retainers  and  fifty  match- 
lock men." 

"  It  is  well,  most  noble  Sirdar,  And  what  will  AH 
Khan  Toorkoman  do  in  the  like  cause  ?  " 


92  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

"  All  Khan  will  be  there  with  forty  Toork  troopers 
and  twenty  pikemen." 

"  And  you,  my  Lord  Shams-ud-Deen  ?  " 

"  I,  my  Lord  !  I  am,  or  at  least,  I  don't  quite 
know.  ...  I  am  a  little  uncertain  as  to  our  wisdom 
in  this  matter.  It  is,  as  you  well  know,  a  rule  of  the 
Empire  that  on  the  death  of  a  governor  his  naib  is  to 
take  up  the  government.  We  are  not  so  far  from  Kabul 
here  that  we  can  afford  to  disregard  its  rules  without 
due  care." 

Altamish  frowned  and  stamped  his  foot,  muttering, 
"  This  man's  a  fool  or  a  traitor.  What  the  foul  fiend 
does  Wali  Dad  mean  by  giving  him  a  white  iris  to 
wear ! " 

Then  to  Shams -ud-Deen,  "  Calm  yourself,  my  Lord  ! 
We  should  be  the  last  to  think  of  disregarding  the  laws 
and  rules  of  the  Emperor,  on  whom  be  peace  and  on 
whose  name  be  glory  !  But  in  these  days  Kabul  is 
a  far  cry.  Tribes  are  up  on  the  roads,  and  the  Sikhs 
ever  give  trouble.  As  an  intimate  of  his  court  I  know 
full  well  that  he  wants  peace  and  a  capable  government 
in  his  provinces.  Anarchy  there  must  not  be.  Our 
Afghan  and  his  naib  are  dead.  Besides,  are  we  so 
satisfied  with  this  government  by  Afghans  that  we  should 
like  any  lesser  sirdar  to  affront  us  Toorks  and  Moguls  ? 
A  thousand  times  no  !  and  you  know  it  every  one  of 
you  gentlemen  here  to-day.  I  declare  unto  you  that; 
as  it  is  your  wish,  I  shall  proclaim  myself  governor 
of  Kashmir  when  I  join  you  to-morrow  at  the  Amiran 
Kadal  bridge.  I  shall  take  over  the  fort  of  Hari 
Parbat  to-night  at  the  request  of  the  garrison  and  use 
it  as  my  headquarters  till  we  can  move  into  the  Sher- 
garhi.  I  shall  rule  this  province  so  that  Toork  and 
Mogul  shall  have  fair  shares  of  what  is  right,  and  I 
shall  at  once  send  tribute  and  a  special  messenger  to 
the  Emperor  on  whom  be  glory  !  Not  for  all  the 


THE   GAEDEN  OF  SWEET  BREEZES     93 

diamonds  in  Golconda  would  I  wish  that  sirdars  who 
think  we  are  precipitate  in  this  matter  would  join  me. 
I  wish  all  to  do  that  which  they  consider  right.  But 
there  is  some  amount  of  danger  in  this,  and  those  who 
would  share  my  rewards  must  share  my  anxieties 
and  danger." 

And  here  the  Lord  Altamish  of  the  tribe  of  the  Red 
Horde  of  the  Attaman  Toork,  let  his  eye  wander  round 
the  company.  And  those  who  looked  it  fair  saw  that 
behind  the  dreamy  film  of  the  opium  habit,  there 
shone  the  sign  of  a  devil.  A  devil  of  determination 
and  unscrupulousness,  and  daring  also,  that  made  each 
feel  that  he  must  either  be  truly  with  him  or  hopelessly 
against  him  and  live  a  province  or  two  apart.  The 
which  is  the  wisdom  of  those  words  where  men  may  still 
hack  their  way  to  power. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  we  will  return  to  the  lawns,  and 
you  will  honour  me  with  partaking  of  refreshment. 
Sliarbat  and  fruits  await  you,  and  Azizun  from  the  city 
hath  some  new  dancers  to  entrance  us.  Then  away, 
and  I  trust  you  to  be  at  the  trysting  place." 

So  the  party  melted  away  out  of  the  summer  house 
and  back  by  the  causeway,  past  the  waterfalls  and  the 
stone  rills  and  the  die-away  fountains,  and  came  out  into 
the  garden  where  Wali  Dad  had  been  keeping  occupied 
the  guests  to  whom  he  had  not  given  an  iris.  And  ever 
he  spoke  of  the  story  of  the  death  of  the  governor, 
giving  a  substantial  detail  to  what  had  been  in  the 
bazaars  of  the  city  the  merest  of  rumours.  'Salabat 
Khan  was  dead  and  gone  to  paradise  owing  to  a 
treacherous  attack  by  Rajpoots  the  other  side  of  the 
passes.  Oh  yes,  the  Naib  Wazir,  worthy  old  Yar  Khan, 
he  was  gone  too  !  What  a  soldier  the  man  had  been, 
but  how  sadly  he  had  neglected  the  just  interests  of 
so  many  in  the  province  !  Especially  had  he  seemed 
to  have  a  malice  against  the  Toork  and  Mogul.  God 


94  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

alone  knew  why;  except  that  the  fountain  of  justice 
is  ever  clogged  in  men's  hearts.  Salabat  Khan,  of 
course,  was  a  mirror  of  justice,  but  what  can  a  man 
do  when  all  his  advisers  are  prejudiced !  Ah !  that 
was  a  strange  case  when  Mohammad  Ali  Beg  had  his 
lands  confiscated,  and  when  Bakhtiar  Ali  the  Persian; 
who  had  received  an  estate  in  perpetuity  for  services 
to  the  Emperor  Ahmad  Shah,  had  woken  up  one  morning 
to  find  a  party  of  Afghans  taking  possession  of  his 
lands,  and  his  almond  orchards.  Had  not  they  heard 
about  that  ?  why  he  thought  every  one  knew.  It 
was  one  of  Yar  Khan's  lieutenants  who  got  the  land 
with  a  title  deed  signed  by  His  Excellency  Salabat 
Khan.  Well,  if  the  latter  was  dead  and  his  naib  too, 
it  would  be  difficult  for  the  machinery  of  government 
to  carry  on.  They  did  not  want  anarchy  such  as  they 
had  had  even  in  the  Imperial  Provinces  of  Delhi 
within  the  memory  of  many  there.  Ho  hoped  some 
one  of  the  nobles  would  feel  justified  in  assuming  the 
governorship,  rather  than  a  few  junior  officials  at  the 
castle  should  be  allowed  to  carry  on.  What !  you 
suggest  that  the  Lord  Altamish  would  be  the  right 
man  ?  Ah  !  the  same  had  occurred  to  him,  but  then 
he  knew  Altamish  Khan  very  well,  and  felt  that  he 
could  only  do  so  in  face  of  a  general  demand  and 
Bupport.  He  quite  agreed  that  it  was  high  time  some 
one  who  understood  Toork  and  Mogul  interests  should 
be  in  power.  Anyway  it  would  be  well  if  the  leading 
men  in  the  province  made  up  their  minds.  What !  the 
Afghan  sirdars  would  never  agree  to  a  Toork  governor  ? 
Well,  times  were  changing  if  a  governor  who  had  got 
the  reins  did  not  know  how  to  deal  with  people  who 
would  not  acknowledge  him.  Tut,  tut,  even  my  Lord 
Altamish,  who  wished  all  men  well,  and  was  a  mirror 
of  justice  such  as  could  only  be  found  in  history,  he 
knew  well  enough  what  to  do  in  a  case  like  that.  But 


THE  GAEDEN  OF  SWEET  BEEEZES     95 

he  knew,  too,  that  his  master  would  be  very  shocked 
at  such  a  suggestion  unless  he  felt  the  Toorks  and 
Moguls  were  all  behind  him.' 

And  such-like  and  so  forth,  talked  Wali  Dad  the 
wily,  and  all  the  while  keeping  an  eye  on  the  mysterious 
stranger  with  the  small  following  who  had  not  as  yet 
talked  with  any  guest.  He,  Wali  Dad,  did  not  know 
who  it  was,  but  Altamish  knew,  no  doubt,  and  had 
forgotten  to  tell  him.  He  had  not  been  given  an  iris 
too  for  the  same  reason.  However,  he  was  sitting 
away  there  and  did  not  seem  wishful  to  intrude.  He 
was  now  sitting  under  a  chenar  tree  with  his  followers 
behind  him,  playing  with  two  magnificent  tazi  hounds; 
with  which  Altamish  would  course  hares  on  the  higher 
plateaus  above  the  Jhelum  river.  Harmless  for  the 
moment,  Wali  Dad  let  him  be,  having  already  set  two 
of  his  own  special  myrmidons  to  watch  him. 

By  this  time  the  guests  were  returning  from  the 
meeting  in  the  summer  house  hi  the  lake  and  began 
to  mingle  with  those  whom  Wali  Dad  had  been  enter- 
taining. The  latter  at  once  led  the  way  to  a  large 
awning  or  open  tent  with  side  walls  enclosing  three 
sides  of  a  portion  of  the  lawn.  The  ground  below 
the  awning  was  provided  with  settees  and  cushions 
and  covered  with  rugs  from  Persia  and  Bokhara.  At 
the  back  were  waiting  attendants  with  cooling  sharbats 
of  many  fragrance,  samovars  of  brick  tea  from  Kashgar, 
and  brass  trays  piled  with  fruits.  And  while  the  bearers 
served  the  refreshments  there  glided  on  to  the  carpets 
Azizun  the  beautiful  dancer  of  Srinagar  on  whom 
Altamish  had  lavished  much  of  his  wealth;  and  who 
in  her  turn  provided  for  his  entertainment  the  best 
of  her  profession  whenever  her  master  needed  enter- 
tainment other  than  her  own. 

To  be  born  of  a  long  line  of  dancers  of  purely 
matriarchal  descent,  for  so  many  generations  that  all 


93 

count  is  lost,  is  to  have  every  nerve  and  muscle,  and 
indeed  every  instinct  of  the  body  working  to  every 
inspiration  of  the  dance  by  intuition.  When  to  such 
a  descent  be  added  great  personal  grace  and  beauty, 
it  is  to  be  imagined  that  the  dancer  so  endowed  is 
likely  to  be  an  influence  of  no  small  weight  in  the 
circles  in  which  she  moved.  In  the  eyes  of  the  Eastern 
world  the  beautiful  dancer  lives  without  soul,  without 
caste,  without  religion,  a  thing  of  beauty,  a  plaything, 
a  useful  instrument,  a  mistress,  but  by  no  possible 
stretch  of  imagination  or  play  of  feeling  could  she  be 
given  a  status.  To  power  and  wealth  they  come  and 
have  come  through  the  ages  like  the  most  glorious 
flowers  of  the  universe,  to  die  away  in  due  season. 
Children  they  have,  who  become  dancers  and  have 
children  in  their  turn  to  unknown  fathers  and  behind 
them  lies  this  curious  matriarchal  descent  that  no  one 
heeds.  A  race  apart,  never  admitted  to  be  human 
any  more  than  those  outcaste  tribes  who  scavenge, 
and  who  are  in  reality  but  the  aboriginal  folk  whom  the 
great  Arian  invasions  contemned  to  be  ostracized  as 
hereditary  menials. 

Out  of  this  vista  of  dancing  female  ancestors,  the 
beautiful  Azizun  had  sprung,  and  had  early  been 
trained  to  her  profession.  She  had  cast  her  toils 
over  many  of  the  young  nobles  of  the  valley,  among 
whom  to  maintain  a  dancing  girl  was  quite  the  most 
fashionable  thing  to  do.  The  power  and  wealth  of  the 
Lord  Altamish  the  Toork,  however,  had  made  her  his 
for  so  long  as  he  pleased,  or  as  she  intended,  so  long 
as  she  pleased,  and  her  influence  and  weight  was  con- 
siderable. It  is  one  of  the  curiosities  of  Indian  history 
that  the  wholly  worthless  dancing  girl,  void  of  all 
religious  or  moral  teaching,  wholly  a  parasite  of  evil, 
leaving  the  world  in  due  course  as  the  sea  wave  turns 
to  foam,  should  often  become  the  most  influential 


THE  GARDEN  OF  SWEET  BEEEZES     97 

adviser  of  a  ruler.  Disowned  and  ignored  by  the 
respectable  women  of  the  zenanas,  they  have  flourished 
ephemerally  as  flourish  the  red  agaric  in  the  shade 
of  an  autumn  wood.  For  two  years  now  Azizun  had 
twisted  Altamish  round  her  slender  olive  finger  with 
the  orange-tipped  henna -stained  nail,  which  was  more 
than  the  three  maidens  who  shared  his  legal  board  and 
bed  had  ever  been  able  to  do.  A  considerable  penny 
it  had  cost  him,  though  still  he  called  his  loss  a  gain. 
And  all  the  while  Azizun  danced  exquisitely  as  well  as 
ruled  wisely,  and  knew  where  her  frontiers  ran,  and 
where  lay  foreign  land,  which  is  more  than  most  of  her 
profession  know,  or  her  sex  either  for  that  matter.  And 
Azizun  while  she  danced  kept  also  her  professional  eye 
open,  and  had  secured  as  a  disciplined  following  the 
best  of  the  coming  dancers  in  Kashmir.  Their  training 
had  been  perfected  under  her  own  eye,  and  Altamish 
wise  in  his  generation  had  arranged  that  they  should 
dance  for  his  supporters  on  those  velvet  lawns  by  the 
Dhall  Lake. 

So  as  the  sharbats  circulated,  Azizun  and  her  maids 
glided  on  to  carpets  and  stood  jinking  their  ankle 
bells  before  the  admiring  nobles.  And  with  them  came 
the  makers  of  sweet  music,  retainers  of  Azizun  also, 
chosen  for  their  understanding  of  the  more  languid 
and  amorous  tones  of  the  pipe  and  zithar.  Three  of 
them  shuffled  up  behind  the  peris,  the  man  with  the 
dole  or  tom-tom  leading,  a  grey-bearded  old  habitue  of 
the  courts  of  Delhi,  well  practised  to  throb  the  drum 
exactly  when  most  effective.  The  other  two  were 
younger  musicians,  the  piper  with  a  ragged  unkempt 
beard  and  a  black  reed  pipe,  the  man  with  a  zithar 
clean-shaven  with  eyes  deeply  lined  with  cosmetic,  of 
a  vacuous  unclean  lear.  Wholly  unclean,  wholly 
leacherous  and  loathsome  all  three,  but  permissible  in 
that  they  understood  their  art  to  perfection.  And  that 

H 


98  A  FKEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

art  was  the  making  of  haunting  seductive  amorous 
music  that  all  the  world;  for  its  sins,  could  understand. 

Then  commenced  one  of  those  swaying  insinuating 
nautches,  which  to  the  English  are  often  unspeakably 
dreary  and  wholly  unintelligible,  but  to  the  Eastern 
mind  are  fraught  with  all  the  love  and  passion  and 
lust  and  high-drawn  suggestion;  that  ever  Persian 
poet  dreamed  of.  And  the  dance  told  a  story,  com- 
mencing with  the  loneliness  of  a  young  captain  ever 
condemned  to  frontier  guard,  longing  for  the  scented 
delights  of  the  city  bazaar.  And  ever  his  desire  grows, 
and  ever  the  dreary  rocks  of  the  frontier  pall,  till  some 
errand  leads  him  citywards  to  woo  some  beauty  frail 
beneath  whose  verandah  he  sings  in  vain.  And  then 
despair  and  desire  seize  him,  when  lo  !  a  rival  fair 
appears  and  casts  a  lure,  at  first  unheeded  yet  ever 
more  attractive  till  at  last  the  lover  begins  to  feel  the 
spell  of  the  entrancing  provoker.  Then  as  the  fire 
leaps  to  new  fuel,  the  inclination  of  the  absconding 
soldier  becomes  fiercer  and  ever  more  ardent,  and  the 
charmer  ever  more  compelling,  till  he  gives  himself 
body  and  soul  to  the  personified  goddess  of  incarnation. 

The  dancers  elaborately  and  sinuously  dance  their 
interpretation  of  the  story,  now  swaying  slowly  with 
eyes  closed  and  balanced  arms,  as  the  despair  of  the 
captain  is  depicted,  changing  to  the  motion  of  a 
hurrying  serpent,  and  the  violence  of  love  defeated. 
Clash  go  the  castanettes,  and  loud  throbs  the  dole,  and 
then  as  despair  is  greatest  the  slow  insinuating  motions 
of  the  new  enchantress.  Ever  the  spielman  pipes,  and 
the  zithar  twangs,  and  you  can  see  every  muscle  under 
the  soft  olive  skin  and  transparent  muslins  of  the  girls. 
Azizun  leads  the  motions  as  fugleman,  with  arm  and 
ankle  and  bosoms  moving  to  the  pipe  in  softness  and 
in  frenzy. 

That  it  is  all  very  high  class  performing  is  evident 


THE   GAEDEN  OF  SWEET  BEEEZES     99 

in  the  intense  gaze  of  the  onlookers,  and  the  low  sounds 
of  approbation.  Azizun  is  undoubtedly  an  artist  of 
the  very  first  grade,  with  a  figure  and  grace  beyond 
compare.  And  of  all  those  who  looked  and  admired 
not  one  could  have  given  birth  to  a  thought  that  this 
beautiful  and  graceful  creature  was  in  any  sort  a  human 
being  with  any  claim  to  any  of  ordinary  heritage  of 
the  human  race.  Any  existence  beyond  that  of  the 
butterfly  was  absolutely  denied  her  in  the  opinion 
of  each  and  all,  from  the  greatest  to  least  in  that  Eastern 
land. 

With  a  clap  of  Azizun's  hands  the  music  ceased, 
the  girls  glide  away  and  the  musicians  shuffle  after 
them,  ere  the  audience  could  realize  what  it  was  all 
about,  or  give  vent  to  the  chorus  of  Wah  I  Wall  I 
'Undoubtedly  the  Lord  Altamish  understood  their 
needs  and  also  the  secret  of  hospitality.  Never  had 
they  been  so  well  entertained,  Without  fail  he  was 
the  man  to  rule  among  them.  He  would  see  to  their 
advancement  and  knew  how  to  amuse  them.  He 
must,  of  course,  be  king,'  the  which  is  a  story  as  old 
as  ancient  Eome,  and  the  wanderings  of  Israel  in  the 
peninsula  of  Sinai. 

With  the  conclusion  of  the  nautch,  it  was  obviously 
time  to  go,  and  the  guests  hastened  to  take  their  leave, 
whispering  assurances  of  their  presence  the  next 
morning  at  the  Amiran  Kaal  without  fail.  In  fifteen 
minutes  the  lawn  was  empty,  save  of  the  sardonic 
stranger  who  still  fondled  the  dogs  under  the  walnut 
tree,  unmoved  by  the  music  of  the  entertainment, 
Altamish  hurried  over  to  Wali  Dad. 

"  Who  is  your  friend  BaMislii  Sahib  ?  " 

"  Surely,  my  lord,  he  is  your  friend." 

"  Not  so,  I  know  him  not,  Have  you  an  armed 
guard  handy  ?  Let  us  ask  his  business," 

Seeing  that  he  was  observed  and  that  some  one 


100          A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIB 

had  leisure  to  attend  to  him,  the  stranger  approached 
and  saluted. 

"  I  have  business,"  said  he,  "  with  the  Lord  Alta- 
mish,  I  would  see  him  alone,  and  have  an  introduction 
to  him." 

"  The  Lord  Al tarnish  is  not  in  the  habit  of  seeing 
strangers  alone,  sir,"  quoth  Wali  Dad. 

"  Did  you  say  strangers,  young  sir  ?  I  am  no 
stranger  to  his  lordship.  My  greetings  to  the  Lord 
Altamish  and  ask  him  who  stood  by  with  the  bow 
string  to  help  get  rid  of  the  widows  of  his  brother  at 
Sultanpur." 

Here  Altamish  stepped  forward  in  sudden  dismay. 

"  Enough  !  enough  !  I  will  see  this  gentleman  in 
my  own  room ; "  and  he  hastily  led  the  way  to  the  door 
of  his  own  dwelling,  Wali  Dad  following,  and  taking 
the  precaution  to  see  that  half  a  dozen  of  the  house- 
hold retainers  were  about  with  their  arms,  while  the 
stranger's  retainers  joined  a  group  of  their  grooms 
and  horses  at  the  entrance  to  the  courtyard. 


THE  NIGHT  ON  THE  TOP  OP  THE  PASS 

IN  the  bivouac  on  the  top  of  the  Pir  Panjal,  the  horses 
had  finished  their  corn,  and  the  more  weary  had  lain 
down.  Those  of  David's  troop  had  bedding,  and  all 
but  one  mare  had  taken  advantage  of  it.  He  had  stayed 
once  with  his  godfather  in  the  Irregular  Cavalry  of 
the  Bengal  Presidency .  Fro  m  him  the  main  principles  of 
horse-mastery  had  been  learnt  never  to  be  forgotten; 
and  the  troop  horses  showed  it  in  hard  firm  flesh  and 
clean-cut  muscle.  David  came  out  of  his  quarters  to 
find  Yar  Khan  looking  at  the  horses.  A  fir  cone  fire 
was  blazing  at  the  back  of  the  horse  lines,  and  a  dozen 
troopers  crouched  round  warming  their  hands.  The 
glare  of  the  fire  lit  up  the  Afghan's  face.  The  shadows 
of  the  pock-marked  features,  made  the  pits  in  them 
stand  out  like  the  dark  seas  in  the  moon.  One  fierce 
eyebrow  had  the  firelight,  and  the  close  grey  beard 
died  red  with  henna,  red  mingling  with  grey,  also  stood 
out  to  the  fire  light.  Temper,  character,  decision,  were 
marked  in  every  angle  and  corner  of  the  figure  that 
stood  four-square  to  the  night  breeze.  Yar  Khan 
was  born  to  be  the  hand  behind  the  curtain.  Reliable; 
faithful,  shrewd,  a  type  of  man  to  be  seen  hidden 
in  the  gloom  of  the  wings  on  the  stage  of  history 
through  the  ages.  A  believer  in  might,  but  with  a 
shrewd  instinct  if  not  of  the  justice  that  alone  brings 

101 


102          A  FKEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

to  might  its  rightful  inheritance,  at  any  rate  of  how 
far  the  rights  of  subjects  must  bo  respected.  It  was 
chiefly  duo  to  Yar  Khan's  support  that  Salabat  Khan 
had  reigned  as  governor  of  Kashmir  for  six  years. 
His  predecessors  had  averaged  eight  months.  The 
wealth  of  the  valley,  and  the  meekness  of  its  peasantry, 
had  made  it  too  easy  a  prey  ground  for  those  who  would 
grow  rich  quickly.  Salabat  Khan  of  Kabul  and  Yar 
Khan  his  wazir  and  deputy  had  kept  the  turbulent 
colony  of  nobles  and  their  retainers  in  order  for  six 
full  years  of  the  Muhammadan  calendar.  Land  was 
being  broken  that  had  not  felt  the  plough  for  five 
hundred  years  and  more,  and  the  State  granaries  were 
full  to  bursting.  It  was  a  good  two  years  since  any 
noble  had  dared  raid  a  Kashmiri  girl  from  any  of  the 
dab  and  matting  villages  of  the  plain.  Yar  Khan  or 
the  governor  might  order  a  levy  of  maids,  that  was 
another  story,  done  in  due  form  as  a  matter  of  fair 
barter,  but  it  was  not  to  be  done  at  will.  Therefore 
the  nobles  murmured  against  the  governor,  and  wished 
him  ill,  but  no  man  murmured  twice  in  the  hearing 
of  Yar  Khan.  His  ways,  however,  were  the  ways  of 
Central  Asia,  which  are  not  the  ways  of  Europe,  save 
perhaps  that  the  disembowelling  of  a  living  rebel  chief 
in  the  market  place  in  the  year  1800  did  in  reality 
differ  little  from  the  execution  of  the  English  gentle- 
men on  Tower  Hill  who  had  been  ill-advised  enough 
to  join  the  clansmen  from  the  north  at  Carlisle  in  the 
attempt  to  revive  a  defunct  dynasty,  the  which  fate 
had  overtaken  two  uncles  of  David.  To  be  hung 
and  quartered  and  the  still  beating  heart  torn  from  the 
body  before  a  yelling  London  crowd  is  not  very  different 
from  a  disembowelling  scene  in  the  main  bazaar  at 
Kabul.  All  of  which  David  Eraser  may  or  may  not 
have  thought,  if  he  did  think  at  all  on  such  matters, 
but  the  Abbe  Armande  du  Plessis,  who  had  seen  the 


THE  NIGHT  ON  THE  TOP  OF  THE  PASS    103 

tender  heart  of  beautiful  La  Lamballe  on  a  pike,  found 
little  to  chooso  between  the  tender  ruth  of  Cross  or 
Crescent. 

All  of  which  is  as  may  be.  Certain  it  is  that  Salabat 
Khan  and  Yar  Khan  his  wazir  and  naib  or  deputy; 
kept  the  peace  with  some  ruth  in  Kashmir,  and  the 
people  knew  it.  These  methods,  good  or  bad,  were 
the  methods  of  the  East,  That  set  jaw  of  the  wazir' s 
under  the  stubbly  red  beard  meant  soldierly  qualities, 
and  it  was  with  some  approval  that  he  watched  one 
of  David's  troopers  on  sentry,  pace  up  the  horse  lines. 
Among  the  Afghan  horse,  their  animals  tethered  any 
fashion,  and  the  saddlery  flung  aside  carelessly,  there 
was  little  to  attract  that  appeal  to  precision  which  tho 
real  leader  understands.  As  David  came  down  through 
tho  rows  of  horses  Yar  Khan  accosted  him. 

"  Good  evening,  young  sir  !  You  are  looking  to 
your  horses  ?  That  is  right.  Lucky  for  my  loons 
here  that  they  have  hardy  horses  or  it  would  fare  ill 
with  them." 

"  Khan  Sahib"  replied  the  young  man,  "  I  early 
learnt  that  no  soldier  should  rest  or  break  bread  till 
his  horse  be  cared  for." 

Hero  old  Ganesha  Singh  sprang  to  his  feet,  tho 
troopers  round  the  fire  with  him,  standing  to  attention. 
It  was  evident  to  the  Afghan  that  the  action  meant 
respectful  obedience  to  their  commander.  It  was 
new  to  him,  but  he  highly  approved  of  it. 

"  Ah !  You've  picked  up  this  discipline  of  the 
English,  I  have  never  seen  their  troops,  but  I  hear 
of  a  thousand  bayonets  moving  as  one.  I  begin  to 
understand.  Your  services  will  be  very  useful  to 
us  here.  Tell  me,  Ferassa  Sahib,  do  you  understand 
cannon  ?  " 

"  Certainly  I  do,  Khan  Sahib,  so  far  as  working  them 
goes ;  but  I  cannot  cast  them," 


104          A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

"  Never  mind  the  casting,  we  have  a  hubshi  *  in 
Srinagar  who  can  do  that  well.  He  came  from  some 
Maratha  foundry  in  Agra.  Our  trouble  is  that  we 
have  no  one  who  can  use  our  guns  properly.  I  want 
to  expel  our  artillery  commandant,  who  is  quite  useless, 
but  I've  no  one  to  put  in  his  place.  Can  you  train  me 
a  man  ?  " 

"  I  can  try,  Khan  Sahib.  They  say  an  Arab  makes 
the  best  artilleryman.  Have  you  any  ?  " 

"  One  or  two,  but  none  of  them  worth  their  pay. 
Come  and  look  over  the  wall  here  and  tell  me  how  to 
point  a  gun  that  will  defend  a  steep  approach.  Our 
Hari  Parbat  guns  are  not  placed  right,  I  know." 

Now,  Hari  Parbat  was  the  citadel  of  Srinagar,  the 
one  garrisoned  by  the  Eegiment  of  Victory. 

The  two  walked  over  to  the  grey  stone  wall  of  the 
serai,  and  peered  into  the  shadows  below — shadows 
that  accentuated  the  white  frosty  light  of  a  moon  that 
was  nearly  full.  It  was  still  and  clear,  and  down 
below  a  horse's  footfall  could  be  heard  displacing  an 
occasional  stone,  as  some  horseman  scrambled  up 
the  steep  path.  Then  the  sound  changed  to  the 
measured  cadence  of  a  tired  horse  on  level  or  slightly 
rising  ground,  "  three-ha'pence  and  tuppence,  three- 
ha'pence  and  tuppence." 

"  That  horse  is  going  lame,"  said  the  Afghan.  "  Do 
you  hear  him  ?  '  Dot  and  carry  one,  dot  and  carry 
one.'  He  is  on  the  level  piece  about  three-hundred 
yards  away." 

And  the  sound  continued  to  re-echo,  "  three-ha'pence 
and  tuppence,"  till  the  still  night  air  was  alive  with  it, 

"  Call  two  of  your  men  here,"  continued  Yar  Khan  ; 
"  and  come,  let  us  stand  just  within  the  serai  gate. 
Bid  them  bring  their  arms.  I  know  not  who  would 

*  Negro. 


THE  NIGHT  ON  THE  TOP  OF  THE  PASS    105 

be  coming  up  this  hill  at  such  a  pace.  There  is  some 
trouble  in  Srinagar,  I'll  be  bound.  I  begged  the 
Sirdar  to  put  Altamish  in  chains  before  we  came 
away.  That  accursed  hound  is  the  father  of  all  the 
evil  and  half  the  lies  in  the  state." 

The  sound  of  the  tired  hoofs  had  died  away,  the 
rider  must  now  be  scrambling  up  the  last  short  ascent 
to  the  serai,  that  had  frozen  slippery  since  the  sun 
went  down.  The  two  Rajpoot  troopers  whom  David 
had  summoned  stood  with  their  lances  at  the  charge 
across  the  gateway.  Yar  Khan  and  David  stood 
within  the  gate  in  the  shadows  of  the  wall.  The  sound 
of  the  hoofs  again  became  clear,  and  in  another  minute 
a  horseman  arrived  with  panting  steed  in  front  of 
the  gate,  and  nearly  rode  on  to  the  two  bright  spear- 
points,  to  call  out  hurriedly — 

"  Ahoy  !  watchman  ahoy  !  I  seek  shelter  in  the 
name  of  the  Governor  of  Kashmir,  His  Excellency  the 
Sirdar  Salabat  Khan.  Who  are  these  who  block  the 
way  of  his  messenger  ?  I  want  fire  and  shelter  and 
forage.  Let  me  and  my  horse  in,  in  the  name  of  the 
Sirdar" 

"  Let  him  in !  Let  him  in ! "  said  Yar  Khan; 
chuckling  to  himself  to  see  the  steady  lance  points 
of  the  two  well-disciplined  troopers. 

"It  is  young  Habib  Ullah,  who  is  commandant 
of  His  Excellency's  bodyguard  squadron.  He  is 
all  right." 

"  Anne  do  I  *  Lai  Singh !  Anne  do  I"  called  David, 
and  the  lance  points  fell  away. 

"  Come  in,  Habib  Ullah  Khan,  come  in.  It  is  I, 
Yar  Khan,"  and  as  the  tired  horseman  slipped  from 
his  horse,  the  old  Afghan  stepped  out  into  the  moonlight 
within  the  gate.  Habib  Ullah  rushed  forward  to  Yar 

*  Let  him  come. 


106          A  FEEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

Khan,  and  salaamed,  and  then  turned  to  David  to  call 
out  excitedly — 

"  Your  Excellency  !  Your  Excellency  !  Praise  be 
to  God  you  are  here,  They  said  you  had  been  killed 
by  Rajpoots." 

And  the  young  horse-soldier  seized  David's  hand  in 
both  his  own.  "  Tush,  fool ! "  said  Yar  Khan.  "  Tush, 
be  quiet.  Who  are  you  talking  to  ?  This  is  not  the 
Sirdar" 

Habib  Ullah  stepped  back  and  looked  at  David. 

"If  it  is  not  the  Sirdar,  it  is  his  own  brother.  I 
do  not  understand." 

Yar  Khan  looked  at  David.  "  Pish !  The  boy  is 
right ;  in  this  light  there  is  a  great  resemblance. 
However,  whatever  brings  you  here,  young  Habib 
Ullah  ?  Come  inside,  and  stop  chattering  outside. 
We  are  talking  like  women  round  a  well.  Let  one 
of  your  men  take  his  horse  over  to  where  mine  are." 

And  so  the  three  withdrew  to  the  small  out-quarter 
in  the  serai,  and  Habib  Ullah  Khan  of  the  Klias 
Eissalah  told  his  story.  It  was  merely  the  story  of 
his  hidden  presence  in  the  salon  of  Allah  Visayah,  and 
the  added  interpretation  of  that  lady.  Of  this  naturally 
the  young  captain  of  horse  told  as  much  as  properly 
pertained  to  the  main  subject. 

To  Yar  Khan  the  threads,  partly  bared  by  Habib 
Ullah,  were  clear  enough.  Altamish  Khan  he  knew 
for  a  pig-swine  of  the  worst  type  whom  he  would  long 
ago  have  sent  the  way  of  all  flesh  had  he  had  his  way. 
But  His  Excellency  the  Governor  had  some  conception 
of  haute  politique.  He  had  believed  Altamish  to  be 
very  much  hand  and  glove  with  the  Mogul  party,  both 
in  Hindostan  and  at  Kabul,  and  too  powerful  to 
be  removed  except  as  a  last  resort.  The  lesser  evil 
had  seemed  to  be  the  continued  existence  of  Altamish. 
So  Altamish  had  laughed  in  his  evil  sleeve  and  Yar 


THE  NIGHT  ON  THE  TOP  OF  THE  PASS    107 

Khan  bad  had  to  content  himself  with  such  knowledge 
of  his  ways  as  a  well-organized  underground  service 
could  purvey. 

"  You  don't  seem  to  have  done  much,"  he  growled 
at  the  young  noble. 

"  My  Lord,  what  was  I  to  do  ?  Who  am  I  to  take 
your  place  ?  You  were  reported  to  be  on  the  passes 
near.  But  I  have  given  two  orders  in  your  name. 
First,  I  told  the  commandant  of  the  Shergarhi  that  it 
was  your  order  that  on  no  account  was  any  man  of  the 
Regiment  of  Victory  to  be  allowed  into  the  Palace  on 
any  pretext  whatever.  Further,  that  he  should  not 
quack  of  this  order  to  any  one.  Secondly,  I  saw 
Kommadan  Rung  Khan  of  the  artillery  and  told 
him  that  it  was  your  order  that  a  salute  was  to  be 
prepared  for,  in  readiness  to  fire  to-morrow  morning. 
Also,  as  private  information,  that  I  believed  that  some 
one  had  told  you  that  his  war  supply  of  ammunition  was 
wrong  and  that  you  might  be  coming  to  inspect  it. 
He  thanked  me  and  swore  all  should  bo  in  good  order. 
One  more  thing  happened  as  I  came  out  of  the  Poplar 
Avenue,  by  the  watermill.  The  tinker  folk  were  there; 
that  gang  which  goes  round  snake-charming  at  the 
faii-s.  The  old  woman  who  tells  love  chances — perhaps 
you  know  her,  Wazir  Sahib  ?  "  Yar  Khan  snorted. 
"  Well,  some  of  us  know  her,  and  she  called  out  to 
me,  '  See  the  rats  leave  the  falling  tower.  Whither 
away  so  fast,  Kommadan  jee  ? '  I  stopped  casually  and 
said,  '  Why  mother,  to  meet  His  Excellency,  of  course.' 
Then  she  sidled  up  along  my  horse  and  whispered, 
'  And  what  of  the  Lord  Altamish  ?  '  I  said,  '  Late 
again,  mother,  and  here  is  five  rupees  to  tell  the  town 
so.'  So  you  see  that  the  tale  has  been  spread." 

"  By  the  kirtle  of  the  blessed  Fatima,"  said  Yar 
Khan.  "  This  boy  is  not  quite  the  fool  he  looks. 
He  ventures  to  give  orders  in  my  name.  Some  day 


108          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

I  shall  make  a  man  of  him,  a  real  man.  What  sign 
did  you  give  the  Kommadan  of  the  palace  to  make  him 
sure  that  the  order  was  imperative  ?  " 

"  Why;  Wazir  Sahib,  I  have  a  seal  here  that  i8 
something  like  yours.  I  showed  it  to  him  and  made 
an  impression  on  his  court  circular.  I  smudged  it." 

"  If  this  young  officer  is  not  bowstrung  or  blown 
from  a  gun,  one  of  these  days  he  will  rise  to  power. 
However,  a  truce  to  this,  we  must  get  to  work.  How 
many  troopers  have  you,  Ferassa  Sahib  ?  " 

"  Twenty,  sir,  all  good  men." 

"  And  I  have  half  as  many  again.  Humph  !  Fifty 
men  is  not  much  to  make  a  show  with.  We  must  try 
and  get  His  Excellency  back,  ill  or  well.  If  he  cannot 
be  seen  within  twenty-four  hours,  half  the  garrison 
and  all  the  city  will  believe  him  dead,  and  I  doubt  we 
can  hold  the  place  long  against  Altamish.  If  he  is 
alive  I  can  raise  the  city  and  valley.  If  he  is  dead 
or  believed  dead,  nobody  will  care.  To  them  an 
ordinary  baron  is  as  good,  or  as  evil,  as  another,  and 
it  is  a  far  cry  to  Kabul.  It  is  the  peasantry  and  the 
merchant  who  know  what  Salabat  Khan  has  done  for 
them." 

Yar  Khan  strode  up  and  down  the  room  in  his 
anxiety,  the  glow  from  the  log  fire  again  throwing  up 
the  ridge  and  furrow  on  his  face,  and  his  eyebrows 
seemed  to  meet  in  one  long  scowl  of  perplexity.  At  that 
moment  a  knock  sounded  at  the  door.  Habib  Ullah 
sprang  to  see  who  waited.  At  the  door  stood  a  veiled 
woman,  who  intimated  that  the  Lady  Miriam  had  heard 
that  a  sirdar  from  Srinagar  had  ridden  into  camp  with 
important  news,  and  she  wished  to  know  what  it  was, 
and  also  to  see  the  Sirdar  Yar  Khan  at  once. 

The  Sirdar  frowned  and  muttered  under  his  breath. 

"  May  the  fiend  fly  away  with  women.  Their  ears 
are  so  accursedly  long  when  they  scent  news,  and 


THE  NIGHT  ON  THE  TOP  OF  THE  PASS    109 

curiosity  drives  them  wild,  high  or  low,  rich  or  poor, 
drat  them !  Tell  the  gracious  lady  that  the  news 
is  trivial,  and  that  the  Sirdar  is  loath  to  disturb  her 
to-night.  And  hark  ye,  my  girl !  here  is  five  rupees,  and 
get  the  princess  to  bed  quietly.  Nay,  stay  !  Don't 
let  her  undress,  but  keep  her  quiet  for  a  bit.  All  you 
pretty  things  are  a  nuisance." 

The  waiting  woman  stepped  into  the  middle  of  the 
room. 

"  Thank  you,  my  lord,  for  your  gracious  words.  The 
lady  Miriam  will  herself  hear  the  news,  and  give  her 
own  message  .  .  .  Nay  !  "  said  Miriam,  who  had  now 
slipped  off  the  waiting  woman's  veil,  and  had  only 
her  own  thin  veil  across  her  eyes.  "  Don't  try  to  quiet 
me.  Some  one  has  told  me  that  my  brother  himself 
has  returned.  How  can  that  be  ?  " 

Yar  Khan  made  a  grimace  at  David,  and  assumed 
an  air  of  resignation, 


CHAPTEE  XI 

A    COUNCIL  OF  WAR 

THE  Lady  Miriam,  as  has  been  explained,  was  a  wilful 
woman,  even  Yar  Khan  had  admitted  that,  and  knew 
that  she  was  not  to  be  brushed  aside  lightly.  So 
pocketing  his  disgust  at  the  arrival  of  a  petticoat, 
however  desirable,  he  accepted  the  situation,  and 
gazed  kindly  on  a  lass  that  had  acquired  a  freedom 
almost  unknown  even  among  Afghan  women. 

"  Lady,"  said  he,  "  as  you  know  so  much,  I  agree 
you  must  know  all.  There  is  greater  trouble  in 
Srinagar  than  we  anticipated.  The  Sirdar  Habib 
Ullah  Khan  who,  as  you  know,  commands  the  KJias 
EissalaJi,  His  Excellency's  bodyguard,  has  but  now 
ridden  in  to  say  that  Altamish  Khan  has  spread  the 
tale  that  Salabat  Khan  your  brother  is  dead,  on  the 
far  side  of  the  Pir  Panjal.  He  intends  to  proclaim 
himself  Governor,  and  has  probably  got  possession 
of  the  Hari  Parbat  fort.  God  send  he  has  not  got  the 
Shergarhi  palace  also !  I  intend  to  go  straight  into 
Srinagar  now  to  see  what  can  be  done,  and  do  take 
you  with  me,  as  your  presence  may  have  some  effect, 
at  any  rate  on  our  own  supporters.  Oh,  that  His 
Excellency  were  here  !  if  only  in  a  litter  ?  " 

Miriam's  eyes  twinkled  at  the  calm  way  in  which 
her  movements  had  been  settled. 

"  I  am  ready  to  start  at  once."  Prompt  action  she 
could  see  was  needed.  "  Can  we  get  my  brother  up 

no 


A  COUNCIL   OF   WAR  111 

to  us  ?  Even  wounded  we  shall  find  his  counsel  the 
wisest,  however  bad  his  sword  arm  be."  And  here 
her  eye  fell  on  Habib  Ullah,  who  at  once  made  obeisance. 
She  knew  him  by  repute  for  one  of  the  liveliest  rustlers 
of  the  vice-regal  court. 

"  Aha,  Sirdar  Sahib,  you  have  ridden  promptly." 

"  Gracious  lady,  it  were  needed.  Your  brother's 
presence,  to  be  seen  of  the  people,  is  badly  required. 
Yours  is  the  next  best.  When  I  first  saw  this  dis- 
tinguished stranger  in  the  moonlight,  I  thought  it 
was  His  Excellency,  and  my  heart  leapt." 

Miriam  looked  at  David.  It  has  been  mentioned 
that  he  had  some  general  resemblance  to  Salabat  Khan, 
who  looked,  however,  some  years  the  older.  Miriam 
had  noticed  it  in  a  casual  way  when  she  first  saw 
David  at  Thana  Mandi.  In  the  dim  firelight  of  the 
little  room,  the  resemblance  noticed  by  Habib  Ullah 
was  the  more  apparent.  Her  quick  wit  saw  the  con- 
nection. 

"It  is  true  !  It  is  true  !  This  stranger  is  like  my 
brother.  He  shall  ride  with  me  to  Srinagar  to-night, 
and  we  will  proclaim  that  His  Excellency  has  returned, 
and  all  the  people  shall  see  him  ride  through  the  city. 
How  say  you,  Wazir  Sahib"  said  she  turning  to  Yar 
Khan. 

The  audacity  of  the  suggestion  had  taken  the  Wazir 
by  surprise. 

"  Pish ! "  muttered  he,  thinking  that  there  could 
be  no  doubt  but  that  women  were  angels  of  evil. 
"  Lady,  the  wisdom  of  your  house  is  always  great, 

but " — And  here  the  wooden  logs  burst  into  a 

blaze,  and  a  jet  of  light  shone  out  over  David. — "  By 
the  Prophet's  shoes,  lady !  there  is  something  in 
what  you  say.  The  lad  is  very  like  His  Excellency, 
younger,  but  like.  Wait  here  now,  and  it  please 
you,  till  I  return." 


112  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

And  Yar  Khan,  naib  and  wazir  to  the  Governor  of 
Kashmir,  strode  out  into  the  cool  night  air  to  consider 
the  startling  suggestion.  It  was  rather  beyond  the 
ken  of  even  his  experience  to  have  to  stem  a  rebellion 
with  a  missing  governor  and  then  to  find  a  substitute 
to  hand.  Miriam's  suggestion  was  novel  and  bold, 
but  it  undoubtedly  offered  a  prospect  of  success  that 
nothing  else  showed.  The  arrival  of  Yar  Khan  and 
party  would  in  itself  hearten  up  the  Afghan  party  it 
is  true,  but  it  could  only  result  in  some  form  of  civil 
war  in  which  they  might  or  might  not  be  successful. 
There  was  no  leader  of  any  influence.  Yar  Khan 
was  clever  enough  to  know  his  own  limitations.  He 
had  not  the  personality  necessary,  and  he  knew  it. 
A  trusty  adviser,  a  staunch  servant,  a  daring  sub- 
ordinate leader,  a  judge  of  men  and  their  evil  ways, 
he  knew  himself  to  be.  He  was  the  most  invaluable 
assistant  that  ruler  and  leader  could  have,  but  he 
missed  the  divine  spark.  The  art  of  command  was 
not  to  him.  And  marvel  of  marvels  he  knew  it.  Ho 
was  quite  capable  of  holding  the  valley  for  Salabat  Khan 
wisely  and  determinedly,  and  intended  to  have  a  very 
fair  try  to  do  so,  but  a  wavering  populace  would  not 
come  to  heel  to  his  call. 

Therefore  the  daring  proposal  of  Miriam  came  as 
light  from  heaven.  Manage  a  puppet  king  who  would 
give  orders  and  sit  at  the  head  in  another's  robes  he 
felt  quite  equal  to.  It  might  be  dangerous  for  the 
substitute,  but  what  were  men  made  for,  and  no  one 
really  cared  a  straw  whether  or  no  this  young  adven- 
turer did  lose  his  life  in  the  game.  A  nice  boy.  Oh 
yes !  quite  a  nice  boy.  In  fact,  he  had  been  more 
attracted  by  him  than  ever  he  could  remember  in 
the  course  of  his  life,  but  this  was  a  serious  matter 
in  which  likes  and  dislikes  must  be  disregarded.  The 
thing  must  be  gone  through  with,  and  that  without 


A  COUNCIL  OP  WAR  113 

delay,  that  was  quite  clear.  Exactly  how  they  had 
best  act,  must  be  settled  on  as  they  rode  along.  Miriam 
should  come  with  them,  which  would  effectively 
corroborate  the  likeness  of  her  brother  should  there 
be  any  inclined  to  doubt  Fraser's  face  on  its  merits. 
None  of  her  tiresome  women  should  come,  they  must 
follow  after.  There  would  bo  other  women  in  the 
palace  ready  to  receive  her,  if  they  got  there.  Pshaw ! 
Got  there  !  Of  course,  they  must  get  there.  There 
could  be  no  failure. 

So  arguing,  Yar  Khan  paced  up  and  down  in  the 
moonlight,  till  his  ideas  took  shape.  Being  a  man  of 
action,  he  decided  that  they  must  give  the  horses  two 
hours  more  rest  and  then  ride  hard.  He  therefore 
issued  orders  that  all  men  were  to  be  roused  in  an  hour 
and  a  half's  time,  and  then  turned  back  to  the  quarters 
where  he  had  left  David,  the  Sirdar  Habib  Ullah,  and 
the  Lady  Miriam. 

While  Yar  Khan  had  been  pacing  outside,  Miriam 
had  been  putting  Habib  Ullah  through  a  searching 
cross-examination,  much  to  that  young  officer's 
surprise.  Masterful  women,  excepting  always  the 
Begum  Allah  Visayah,  who  belonged  to  a  class  apart, 
were  a  new  phenomenon  to  him.  Beauty  frail  and 
fair  he  understood,  as  well  as  the  two  quiet  little 
Mussalmani  women  to  whom  he  was  married,  and 
who  lived  far  away  in  the  Punjab.  Here  was  a  lady 
of  high  degree,  with  a  way  of  her  own.  Habib  Ullah 
at  once  proceeded  to  pay  attention  and  answer  categori- 
cally. How  had  he  first  heard  of  the  plot  ?  He  told 
her,  not  sparing  her  niceness  in  his  relation  of  the 
incident.  What  did  he  think  of  Altamish  and  his 
party  ?  Did  he  expect  the  Kommadan  of  the  Regiment 
of  Victory  would  give  up  the  Hari  Parbat  fort  ?  What 
did  he  think  the  people  of  Srinagar  would  do  ?  Would 
they  at  once  support  the  Governor  if  they  thought 

i 


114          A  FEEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

he  had  returned  ?  To  this  latter  question  Habib 
Ullah  returned  a  very  emphatic  affirmative.  He  had 
no  doubt  that  the  return  of  the  Governor,  if  he  had 
really  been  seen  to  have  returned  by  reliable  witnesses, 
would  have  an  immediate  effect,  which  confirmed 
Miriam  in  her  determination  to  make  them  dress 
Fraser  to  act  the  part  of  the  returned  Governor. 

David  sat  silent  while  this  cross-examination  was 
in  progress,  much  approving  the  quiet  determination 
of  the  lady.  The  suggestion  was  not  ill-pleasing  which 
would  place  him  in  such  intimate  relations  with  so 
charming  a  companion,  as  promised  to  result  from  the 
proposal  that  he  should  impersonate  her  brother  and  ride 
with  her  in  that  capacity  through  the  streets  of  Srinagar. 
It  was  not,  however,  till  Yar  Khan  reappeared  that 
the  difficulties  of  the  position  became  fully  apparent. 
In  ten  minutes  from  the  time  that  that  prompt  indivi- 
dual had  left  them,  he  was  back  again,  with  most  of 
the  subsidiary  details  clear. 

"  Lady,"  said  ho  to  Miriam,  "  we  will  start  as 
you  suggest,  in  two  hours'  time.  The  difficulty  that 
I  find  is  to  prevent  our  arrangement  and  our  secret 
being  known.  The  whole  of  my  men  know  Ferassa 
Sahib  well,  and  they  must  therefore  be  let  into  the 
secret ;  then,  of  course,  all  his  own  men  must  know. 
That  is  too  many  for  a  secret,  and  the  whole  thing  is 
bound  to  get  out.  It  won't  matter  so  much  if  we 
can  keep  it  secret  for  the  first  few  days,  till  we  get 
the  situation  in  hand,  but  it  must  not  get  out  before 
that.  We  must  leave  a  good  many  of  our  men  behind, 
though  we  can  ill  spare  them.  Whether  it  will  be  best 
to  send  Ferassa  Sahib's  men  away,  or  our  own,  I 
don't  know.  He  can,  perhaps,  keep  his  own  men  from 
talking,  while  we  could,  perhaps,  keep  ours ;  but  with 
the  two  parties  I  see  no  chance  of  it." 

David  said  nothing,  but  he  felt  that  there  was  sound 


A   COUNCIL  OF   WAR  115 

sense  in  it  all.  Secrecy — that  would  be  the  difficulty. 
He  naturally  did  not  want  to  be  parted  from  his  own 
men,  especially  in  a  position  likely  to  call  for  very 
considerable  strength  of  character  on  his  part,  when 
a  sound  backing  of  his  own  would  greatly  stimulate 
his  self-reliance,  but  ho  would  wait.  Happily,  the 
keen  wits  of  Miriam  were  at  work. 

"  If  I  did  not  know  how  wise  in  all  counsel  you  were, 
Wazir  Sahib,  I  should  say  you  were  quite  stupid 
to-night.  How  many  men  be  there  who  know  that 
the  Sirdar  Habib  Ullah  Khan  mistook  Ferassa  Sahib 
for  my  brother  ?  That  was  the  first  occasion,  I  under- 
stand, that  the  likeness  had  been  noted  ?  " 

"  The  only  man  who  could  have  heard  was  Dtfffedar 
Faiz  Ullah,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  gate  guard,  and 
opened  it  for  the  Sirdar ;  the  sentry  could  not  have 
heard.  I  hope  Faiz  Ullah  has  not  been  talking." 

"  Very  well,  then,  Wazir  Sahib,  my  suggestion  is  as 
follows  :  Let  Ferassa  Sahib  go  away  with  one  or  two 
of  his  own  men,  who  must  be  told,  with  the  purpose 
of  carrying  a  message  to  my  brother.  Then  in  an 
hour's  time  let  him  ride  in  as  my  brother,  recovered 
of  his  wounds  sufficiently  to  ride.  We  can  tell  the 
men  that  he  had  had  an  inkling  from  other  sources 
of  the  trouble  in  Srinagar,  and  has  hurried  in  to  put 
it  right  despite  his  wound,  which  had  taken  a  turn  for 
the  better." 

This  fresh  contribution  to  the  possibilities  of  the 
situation  set  Yar  Khan  thinking  again  for  a  few 
seconds. 

"  By  all  the  people  of  all  the  Books,"  quoth  he, 
"  this  lady  is  a  wonder  and  a  fit  sister  to  a  governor 
of  a  province.  It  shall  be  as  you  wish.  Ferassa 
Sahib  !  Do  you  ride  out  as  soon  as  we  can  get  you 
disguised  and  dressed  like  His  Excellency.  Take  with 
you  a  couple  of  your  men,  and  I  will  send  two  of  mine. 


116  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

One  of  yours  and  one  of  mine  will  go  on  together  with 
a  message  to  His  Excellency.  You  shall  merely  turn 
back  on  a  pretext  in  a  few  minutes  and  ride  in  with 
one  of  your  men  and  one  of  mine,  who  know  the  secret, 
and  return  to  us  as  His  Excellency." 

David  had  been  listening  intently,  but  had  an 
amendment  to  suggest. 

"  What  good  will  it  do  my  taking  out  four  men  of 
whom  two  are  to  go  on  ?  I  would  rather  that  the  men 
to  go  be  sent  off  first.  Then  I  would  start  with  the 
two  men  who  are  to  return,  telling  them  before  we 
start  of  what  was  in  progress.  I  would  further  suggest 
that  you  should  accompany  me  out  and  that  you 
meet  the  Governor  coming  in  with  two  retainers  and 
escort  him  in,  announcing  his  return  to  all  the  men.  My 
men  will  think  that  I  have  gone  off  to  Poonch  and 
missed  him.  At  any  rate,  Ganesha  Singh  shall  account 
for  my  absence." 

"  Well  thought  of,  Ferassa  Sahib,"  cried  the  Lady 
Miriam.  "  That  will  be  splendid,  will  it  not,  Wazir 
Sahib?" 

And  Yar  Khan,  who  had  a  distinct  preference  for 
being  the  guiding  spirit  himself  in  matters  of  action, 
rather  testily  admitted  that  it  would  be  splendid. 

The  next  thing  to  do  was  to  settle  preliminaries  and 
get  together  the  clothing  for  David  to  wear.  Fortu- 
nately a  good  deal  of  Salabat  Khan's  clothes  were 
with  the  party.  Miriam  had  these  unpacked  ready  for 
old  Gul  Jan  to  take  them  outside  the  serai.  Ganesha 
Singh  was  sent  for,  and  the  whole  situation  was  ex- 
plained to  him,  and  he  was  pleased  to  admit  that  the 
situation  was  a  pretty  one,  and  one  that  it  would  become 
Ferassa  Sahib  to  do  well  in.  The  remaining  details 
were  quickly  arranged.  David  was  to  set  out  in  his 
own  clothes,  and  his  orderly  would  carry  the  change. 
Miriam  readily  agreed  to  travel  without  her  women, 


A  COUNCIL  OF  WAR  117 

for  the  spirit  of  adventure  in  her  was  fully  roused. 
In  half  an  hour  David  and  old  Gul  Jan  left  the  serai 
with  Yar  Khan.  Half  an  hour  later  Yar  Khan  shouted 
to  the  sentry  not  to  fire,  and  came  in  with  a  couple 
of  horsemen,  announcing  to  the  guard  as  he  did  so 
that  His  Excellency  had  ridden  after  them  in  spite  of 
his  wound,  owing  to  rumours  of  trouble  in  Srinagar. 
And  sure  enough  there  was  the  well-known  figure  of 
the  Governor,  with  the  blue  and  gold  lungi  on  his  head 
that  he  always  wore,  and  the  heavy  silk-embroidered 
sheep-skin  mantle  trimmed  with  astrakhan.  The  men 
crowded  out  from  their  shelters  and  the  camp  fires. 
They  had  now  heard  the  news  of  the  trouble  in  the 
valley,  and  the  sight  of  their  chief  was  inspiring  enough. 
Gul  Jan  came  in  to  Ganesha  Singh  to  tell  him  that 
Ferassa  Sahib  had  sent  him  back  to  say  that  he  would 
not  be  with  them  for  a  few  days,  but  that  they  were  to 
take  all  orders  from  the  Sirdar  Yar  Khan,  which 
wondering  somewhat  they  were  prepared  to  do. 

The  wounded  Governor,  stiff  and  weary  after  his 
long  ride,  was  assisted  down  from  his  saddle,  saying 
that  he  had  met  David  and  had  changed  horses  with 
him,  as  his  (the  Governor's)  horse  would  carry  the  latter 
down  the  frozen  slopes  the  better,  and  that  David 
had  gone  on  urgent  messages  for  him.  It  was  now 
close  on  midnight,  and  Yar  Khan  had  arranged  to 
start  at  a  half-hour  after.  Six  of  the  Afghan  troopers 
would  remain  with  Miriam's  two  women,  and  the 
heavier  baggage  and  the  rest  follow  on  in  the  morning, 
while  the  others  rode  straight  for  Srinagar.  Miriam 
and  Yar  Khan  took  the  wounded  Governor  inside 
the  quarters  and  settled  some  of  the  preliminary 
plans.  They  three  would  ride  together,  followed  by 
David's  own  men,  while  half  the  Afghans  under  the 
Sirdar  Habib  Ullah  Khan  would  ride  in  front  and  a 
similar  party  in  rear.  Miriam  looked  at  David  with 


118  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

a  grave  air,  despite  a  twinkle  at  the  back  of  her  eyes, 
and  said — 

"  Ferassa  Saliib,  you  really  are  extremely  like  my 
brother  as  I  remember  him,  perhaps  ten  years  ago. 
Do  you  feel  equal  to  the  part  ?  " 

And  Yar  Khan  added,  "  You  will  have  to  ride 
officially  through  the  city,  when  we  have  straightened 
out  this  matter  of  these  dog  Toorks,  and  then  you  will 
have  to  hold  your  Durbar  at  once.  This  His  Excellency 
usually  did  twice  a  week.  We  shall,  of  course,  prime 
you  with  information  as  to  whom  all  the  officials  of 
the  state  are.  Should  we  be  discovered,  we  shall  rally 
round  you  till  the  last.  If,  however,  all  goes  well  in 
quelling  this  insurrection,  it  would  be  possible  to  you 
to  take  to  your  bed  to  recover  from  your  wound,  while 
I  manage  the  state." 

"  And  oh !  Ferassa  Sahib,"  exclaimed  Miriam, 
"  you  will  become  such  a  friend  to  my  brother  if  you 
are  the  means  of  saving  him  from  this  cowardly 
plot  ! " 

And  there  was  sufficient  glow  in  the  firelight  to 
show  a  very  real  glint  in  the  Lady  Miriam's  eye  that 
went  straight  to  David's  virgin  heart.  That  great 
swell  of  determination  to  do  well  and  right  for  the 
right's  sake  that  lies  in  every  man,  stirred  within  him. 
It  has  stirred  many  a  heart  before  and  since,  and  it  is 
often  a  woman  that  touches  the  string  that  looses  it. 
Most  beautiful  and  many  less  favoured  women  have 
the  power  ii  they  are  in  themselves  worthy  of  it. 
Children  and  weaklings  also  call  it  forth  in  the  civilized 
heart.  Some  men  have  the  gift.  The  Stuarts  had 
it  by  personal  magnetism,  others  have  it  from  strength 
and  straightness  of  character.  David  Fraser  had  been 
moving  through  the  world  more  or  less  aimlessly,  look- 
ing for  some  object  to  which  to  devote  himself.  Here 
unconsciously  he  found  it.  That  woman  qua  woman 


A   COUNCIL  OF  WAE  119 

was  mixed  up  with  the  discovery  he  was  as  yet  too 
unsophisticated  or  inexperienced  to  realize.  But  old 
Andrew  Fraser  and  Sultana  Aluri  his  wife  had  built 
up  before  they  died  some  promising  clay  for  the  potter 
to  mould. 


CHAPTER  XII 


AT  half  an  hour  after  midnight  the  small  cavalcade 
left  Aliabad  Serai  with  horses  none  too  fit  for  the 
purpose.  They  had  twenty-five  miles  to  make,  and 
some  five  and  a  half  hours  to  do  it  in,  which,  as  the 
descent  to  the  level  would  take  a  couple  of  hours, 
would  leave  them  but  three  and  a  half  hours  for  nineteen 
miles.  However,  it  was  important  to  be  in  by  six, 
when  the  first  shimmer  of  dawn  was  showing,  to 
forestall  Altamish  at  the  Shergarhi,  and  if  possible 
to  regain  Hari  Par  bat,  supposing  always  that  that 
post  had  gone  over  to  the  Toork  Party.  This  infor- 
mation would  probably  not  be  forthcoming  without 
an  actual  visit  there,  but  Yar  Khan  trusted  to  events 
to  guide  him  so  far  ahead  as  that.  The  first  thing 
was  to  get  his  party  off  the  slippery  slopes  of  the 
mountain,  which,  melted  during  the  daytime,  froze  at 
night  like  glass.  The  horse-shoes  had  been  roughed 
at  Ratan  Pir,  but  the  nails  were  already  worn  nearly 
smooth.  As  a  start  Yar  Khan  led  the  calvacade,  while 
David  commenced  by  leading  Miriam's  horse,  a  pro- 
ceeding which  that  high-spirited  young  lady  seemed  to 
think  quite  suitable.  It  was  slow  work  slipping  and 
slithering  down  the  frozen  mule  path,  but  at  last 
the  old  stone  temple  on  the  lowest  spur  was  reached, 
standing  out  as  a  landmark  in  the  moonlight.  All  was 

120 


THE  NIGHT  BIDE  121 

-ilent,  not  even  a  chiragh*  burnt  on  the  shrine,  and 
the  deep  bells  and  conchblowers  were  hushed,  and  .the 
wooden  roofing  glistened  in  the  hoar  frost.  Below 
the  temple  the  road  broadened  somewhat,  and  the 
gradients  became  less  severe,  so  Yar  Khan  halted 
on  the  grass  beyond  the  shrine  to  let  his  party  close 
up,  for  it  had  straggled  considerably  on  the  narrower 
road.  As  it  was,  one  horse  had  come  down  and  broken 
a  leg,  so  that  its  rider  would  have  to  follow  on  foot  to 
the  Shergarhi. 

Not  far  below  the  temple  they  came  out  on  to  the 
flats  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  which  gradually 
slope  to  the  Jhelum,  and  began  to  quicken  their  pace 
to  some  six  or  seven  miles  an  hour.  Gul  Jan  rode  to 
take  care  of  Miriam,  with  one  of  her  brother's  men  also; 
and  David  went  forward  to  talk  over  the  situation  with 
Yar  Khan.  That  nobleman  was  in  a  fairly  com- 
municative mood. 

"  See  here,  Ferassa  Sahib,  we  shall  slip  along  now,  I 
hope,  till  we  get  close  to  the  Shergarhi.  We  will  then 
ride  straight  in  there  if  possible,  and  see  that  all  is 
well.  Inayat  Ullah,  a  Populzai,  is  in  command.  He 
has  with  him  perhaps  fifty  men  of  the  palace  guard, 
and  the  whole  of  Habib  Ullah's  squadron,  except  the 
thirty  men  we  had  away  south  of  the  Pir  Panjal,  of 
whom,  as  you  know,  we  now  have 'eighteen  with  us, 
less  that  fool  who  let  his  horse  down  a  while  back. 
We  have  your  twenty  men,  which  makes  thirty-eight 
or  thirty-seven.  We  can  rely  on  the  rest  of  Habib 
Ullah's  men,  whom,  as  I  told  you,  are  His  Excellency's 
special  bodyguard,  which  will  give  us  from  sixty  to 
seventy  sabres  more.  There  are  our  three  hundred 
men  in  the  Hari  Parbat,  whom  we  expect  that  thief 
of  a  Kommadan  will  take  over  to  the  Toorks.  The 

*  Small  earthen  oil  lamp. 


122  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

rest  of  His  Excellency's  troops  are  scattered  over  the 
province.  We  have  a  garrison  up  at  Gilgit,  the  Prophet 
alone  knows  why,  for  those  hill  tracts  are  not  worth  it. 
We  have  troops  up  at  Skardu,  in  Baltistan,  on  the 
China  road ;  we  have  men  at  Uri  Port  on  the  road  to 
the  Punjab,  down  the  Jhelum  valley.  Then  those 
troublesome  Sikh  settlements  at  Muzzaffarabad  always 
want  a  garrison.  So  you  see  we  have  not  much  in 
or  round  the  city.  As  it  is,  we  are  lucky  it  is  not 
autumn,  when  half  those  we  have  would  be  out  getting 
the  revenue  in.  Of  course,  Altamish  would  never  have 
tried  this  on  if  he  had  not  thought  the  people  would 
believe  the  story  of  His  Excellency's  death." 

Here  one  of  the  orderlies  rode  up  with  a  message 
that  the  Lady  Miriam  would  speak  with  Yar  Khan,' 
so  that  old  man  dropped  back.  As  he  did  so  Ganesha 
Singh  rode  up,  and  ranged  himself  alongside  David. 

"  Ah,  Ganesha  Singh,  old  soldier  !  I  wanted  to  see 
you.  Have  you  anything  to  say  or  suggest  ?  " 

"  Not  at  present,  Sahib.  Save  that  I  have  been 
talking  to  the  Afghans;  who  all  think  you  have  got 
very  thin  as  the  result  of  your  wound." 

"  There  is  no  question  of  doubting  my  identity  ?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least,  Sahib,  and  I  heard  that  old 
Euzufzai  duffedar  remark  that  he  always  said  His  Excel- 
lency's Persian  was  a  disgrace  to  an  educated  Afghan." 

"  Aha  !  "  laughed  David.  "  Lucky  for  me  that 
Salabat  Khan's  was  bad,  for  I  know  my  Persian  is 
none  too  good.  I  think  my  Pushtoo  is  better  ;  what 
do  our  troop  think  of  my  disappearance  ?  " 

"  They  are  a  little  disappointed  that  you  are  not 
with  them.  At  the  worst  I  shall  have  to  tell  themj 
but  I  have  given  them  great  promises  of  the  service 
and  position  you  will  receive  from  His  Excellency, 
and  how,  if  all  go  well,  there  may  be  promotion  for  all." 

!'  Humph  !    I  hope  we  may  be  able  to  fulfil  your 


THE   NIGHT  RIDE  123 

promises.  They  are  certainly  in  a  fair  way  to  get 
adventures,  if  that  be  their  wish." 

"  Ah,  well,  Sahib,  I  used  to  go  recruiting  for  the 
Sirkar,  and  if  I  can't  manage  young  soldiers  I  am 
not  fit  to  be  your  ressaldar.  I  can  tell  fairy  tales  and 
make  them  come  true,  too.  All  shall  be  well." 

Presently  Habib  Ullah  rode  up  to  David,  and  said — 
"  Your  Excellency,  it  will  be  well  if  I  ride  with  you 
for  a  while,  or  our  Afghans  will  be  wondering  that 
you  have  none  of  us  with  you." 

"  Come  along,  Sirdar  Sahib,  with  all  the  pleasure 
in  the  world.  Come  and  let  me  practise  my  Persian 
with  you." 

So  while  the  cavalcade  moved  along  at  a  steady 
pace,  Yar  Khan  reined  in  his  horse  till  Miriam  came 
up,  and  then  drew  alongside  her. 

"  Your  ladyship  sent  for  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  did,  Wazir  Sahib.  A  terrible  idea  has  come 
into  my  head.  I  see  great  difficulty  in  front  of  our 
scheme.  How  long  will  it  be  necessary  for  Ferassa  Sahib 
to  impersonate  my  brother  ?  " 

"  Well,  lady,  it  may  be  a  week,  more  likely  ten  days; 
for  I  doubt  if  His  Excellency  can  be  fit  to  move  within 
that  time.  Of  course,  if  wo  find  all  is  well  and  can 
hold  our  own,  then  we  must  send  a  litter  for  him.  I 
told  him  so  in  the  letter  I  sent  this  evening." 

"  Well,  there  will  be  a  difficulty,  and  you,  you 
foolish  Wazir,  you  forgot,  oh  you  quite  forgot,  my 
sisters-in-law,  His  Excellency's  wives.  You  know 
what  an  inquisitive,  tiresome  woman  Alana  Bibi  is. 
Nur  Jan  we  can  manage," 

Yar  Khan  swore  aloud.  It  was  quite  true  he  had 
forgotten  those  infernal  women.  He  had  moved  for 
the  most  of  his  life  in  scenes  in  which  women  were 
always  an  encumbrance.  His  attitude  was  always  the 
same.  They  were  an  encumbrance  and  an  evil.  The 


124          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Lady  Miriam  alone  came  into  a  different  category; 
and  that  only  at  times.  To  Yar  Khan  there  was  no 
inner  house  with  almond-eyed  women  and  round  fat 
little  children,  no  young  son  to  teach  hawking.  Once, 
long,  long  ago,  before  the  small-pox  had  marked  his 
face  like  the  surface  of  a  full  moon,  there  had  been  a 
small  tower  and  homestead  with  an  apple  orchard 
and  willow  trees  away  in  Badakshan,  with  an  almond- 
eyed  wife  and  a  round  fat  son,  the  dead  spit  of  all 
other  round  fat  sons.  Then  while  he  was  away  there 
had  been  a  raid  of  manstealing  Toorkoman  tribes; 
and  he  returned  to  find  his  henchmen  dead  and  his 
house  burnt,  and  not  the  merest  trace  of  his  wife 
and  child.  For  three  years  he  had  tracked  those 
Toorkomans  through  rugged  mountain  and  windswept 
plain,  never  to  find  the  kirri  *  he  searched  for,  though 
taking  full  vengeance  of  the  race  when  and  where  he 
met  them.  Which  redoubled  his  desire  to  get  the 
better  of  the  whole  of  that  race,  as  represented  by 
the  Lord  Altamish  and  his  adherents,  as  may  well  be 
imagined.  Such  was  the  life  story  of  Yar  Khan 
Suddozai,  and  how  it  was  his  heart  and  his  head  had 
become  as  hard  as  iron,  out  of  touch  with  all  woman- 
kind, saving  always  at  propitious  moments  the  Lady 
Miriam. 

"  Lady,"  replied  he  in  some  chagrin,  "  it  is  true, 
we  have  forgotten  the  ladies  of  the  household."  Mark 
the  "  we,"  that  the  lady  might  share  the  obloquy  of  the 
admission.  "  A  murrain  on  all  women,  say  I,  saving 
your  presence,  lady,  for  they  are  always  a  trouble. 
How  shall  we  deal  with  them  ?  They  will  be  all  agog 
to  hear  the  story  of  his  wound  and  this  attempt  at  a 
rising  from  His  Excellency's  own  lips.  If  we  tell  them 
the  truth,  it  will  be  all  over  the  palace  in  an  hour." 

*  Nomad  camp. 


THE   NIGHT  BIDE  125 

"  We  must  try  and  think  out  some  plan.  We  could 
keep  them  quiet  for  a  couple  of  days.  Perhaps  the 
best  thing  would  be  to  say  he  was  ill  in  his  own  apart- 
ments, and  that  he  only  wanted  Nur  Jan.  She  could 
stay  and  nurse  him,  and  I  could  keep  her  in  my  apart- 
ments and  tell  her  the  truth." 

"Humph!"  said  Yar  Khan.  "  You'll  have  the 
Bibi  Alana  tearing  the  house  down,  and  the  Lady  Nur 
Jan's  eyes  out,  if  she  thinks  the  other  is  preferred  as  a 
nurse  to  her.  Perhaps  it  would  be  best  to  send  for 
the  she-devil  alone,  and  let  her  into  the  mystery.  The 
Lady  Nur  Jan  will  keep  her  disappointment  and  injured 
feelings  to  herself." 

"  Poor  Nur  Jan,  I  had  rather  have  it  the  other  way, 
and  see  my  lady  in  a  tantrum,  but  I  expect  you  are 
right.  Nur  Jan  is  as  a  cushion  of  velvet,  and  will  be 
quiet ;  we  certainly  can't  tell  them  both,  except  as 
a  last  resort." 

"  We  shall  have  the  Bibi  Alana  falling  in  love  with 
this  young  Ferassa;  that  will  be  a  pretty  kettle  of 
fish  to  plague  us." 

"  I  should  certainly  hope,"  said  Miriam,  who  received 
the  suggestion  coldly,  "  that  my  sister-in-law  would  do 
nothing  so  foolish  or  so  unseemly.  I  am  surprised 
at  you,  my  Lord,  suggesting  it." 

"  Tut !  tut !  lady,  I  did  but  jest.  I  must  to  the 
head  of  the  column  now,  and  I  will  turn  over  in  my 
mind  how  best  to  act." 

All  this  while  the  steady  pace  had  been  continued, 
past  frosty  fields,  and  silent  hamlets,  from  which  only 
pariahs  took  notice  of  them.  Through  walled  gardens 
and  orchards,  and  over  the  level  karewas  and  water 
channels,  till  they  were  at  the  Jhelum  level,  and  dew 
instead  of  frost  glistened  on  the  trees.  It  was  past 
five  when  they  arrived  at  an  open  space  at  the  end 
of  a  long  line  of  Lornbardy  poplars,  which  told  them 


126  A  FEEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

that  Srinagar  could  not  be  more  than  three  miles  off. 
Yar  Khan  called  a  halt  for  the  cavalcade  to  close  up, 
and  then  ordered  the  nosebags  to  be  put  on  the  horses. 
"  We  can  spare  ten  minutes  here,  Ferassa  Sahib, 
and  we  could  afford  to  lose  that  even  if  it  were  later, 
for  the  sake  of  freshening  up  our  horses." 

The  men  dismounted,  fumbled  with  the  nosebags, 
waved  their  cold  arms,  and  wrung  the  night  dew  from 
their  beards. 

"  We  will  make  straight  for  the  Shergarhi  first,  to 
see  what  news  there  is,  and  see  if  all  be  well.  This 
white  mist  will  soon  thicken  for  an  hour  or  so,  or  I 
am  not  mistaken." 

Twenty  minutes'  further  trot  brought  them  to  the 
high  corner  bastions  of  the  Shergarhi,  which  loomed 
especially  inaccessible  in  the  sheer,  amid  the  white 
river  mist,  which  had,  as  Yar  Khan  had  foretold,  got 
thicker  as  the  first  trace  of  dawn  lightened  the  horizon. 
The  fort  was  alert.  From  up  in  the  bastions  came  the 
nearing  call  of  the  sentries  passing  the  watch. 
"  Number  one;  and  all  is  well !  "  away  faint  in  the  fog. 
"  Number  two,  and  all  is  well !  "  came  nearer,  and 
then  in  the  bastion  above  their  road,  "  Number  three, 
and  all  is  well,"  to  die  away  again  down  the  wall. 
Yar  Khan  was  satisfied.  Inayat  Ullah  Populzai  knew 
his  business,  and  his  men  were  evidently  on  the 
alert.  That  should  be  remembered  to  his  credit. 
There  were  more  empires  lost  by  carelessness  than  by 
want  of  statesmanship. 

Number  three,  too,  had  apparently  announced 
the  approach  of  horsemen,  for  when  Yar  Khan  chal- 
lenged the  main  gate,  it  was  the  Sirdar  Inayat  Ullah 
who  answered,  and  the  parapet  between  the  gate 
towers  bristled  with  musket  barrels. 

"  Who  challenges  ?  "  called  the  Sirdar. 

"  I  the  naib,  and  His  Excellency,"  answered  Yar 


THE   NIGHT  BIDE  127 

Khan,  and  the  Sirdar  recognized  the  well-known 
voice.  But  caution  was  caution,  and  Yar  Khan 
might  conceivably  be  impersonated,  or  might — hardly 
conceivable — be  in  the  plot  of  which  the  young  soldier 
Habib  Ullah  had  warned  him  the  day  before.  So  wise 
Inayat  Ullah  said — 

"  The  enemies  of  the  state  are  many,  and  come  in 
strange  guises.  I  would  see  your  faces,  before  I  open 
my  Lord's  palace  gate." 

"  You  are  wise  to  be  cautious;  old  friend,"  replied 
the  wazir.  "  Put  out  a  torch  and  see." 

And  presently  a  torch  was  thrust  out  bound  to  a 
lanco,  and  the  Sirdar  within  saw  the  well-known  faces, 
standing  afoot  in  the  gloom  holding  their  horses. 

"  Now,  Allah  bo  praised,"  cried  the  Sirdar,  and  the 
great  spiked  gates  rolled  back  to  admit  the  Governor 
and  his  escort.  But  just  as  they  were  about  to  ride 
in  an  object  crawled  forward  from  out  the  fog,  and 
cried,  "  Dohai  I  Khudawand.  Doliai  I  "  * 

.The  party  stopped  instinctively,  and  a  wounded 
Goorkha  bent  at  David's  foot.  His  head  was  covered 
in  coagulated  blood  from  a  sword  cut  on  his  forehead, 
and  he  thrust  out  a  bleeding  arm  stump. 

"  Justice  and  mercy,"  he  cried.  "  I  have  come  from 
the  fort  of  Hari  Parbat." 

"  What  has  happened  ?  Speak,  wretch  !  "  said  Yar 
Khan. 

"  At  the  third  watch  this  morning,  I  was  on  guard 
at  the  gate,  when  the  Kommadan  of  the  Eegiment  of 
Victory  came  to  my  post.  I  am  a  sepoy  of  that 
regiment.  He  said  to  me,  '  Open  the  gate,'  and  I 
opened  it.  Then  in  rushed  a  party  of  Toorks,  who 
cut  at  me,  and  attacked  the  remainder  of  my  guard. 
We  have  half  a  company  of  Goorkhas  in  the  regiment, 

*  Justice  !  Lord,  Justice ! 


128  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

and  wo  were  all  Goorkhas  on  the  guard.  They  killed 
them,  I  could  hear  their  cries,  and  they  never  hurt 
the  Kommadan,  who  rushed  on  with  them,  '  Baying  the 
regiment  is  yours,  saving  only  these  accursed  men  of 
Nepal.'  Then  I  crawled  out  of  the  gate,  and  the  blood 
from  my  head  blinded  me  and  I  lay  faint  for  a  while, 
and  now  I  have  come  to  my  Lord." 

And  David  said,  "  It  is  well,  thou  faithful  soldier. 
Take  him  in,  and  care  for  him.  Now  we  will  ride 
straight  for  the  Hari  Parbat.  How  say  you,  Yar 
Khan." 

But  Yar  Khan  thought  the  young  man  moving  too 
fast,  with  too  little  reference  to  himself,  and  at  first 
demurred.  Again  David  urged  that  prompt  action 
must  be  taken. 

"  If  that  fort  is  known  to  be  in  Altamish's  hands, 
we  shall  have  the  city  believing  that  I  am  dead.  We 
must  recover  Hari  Parbat,  and  then  we  can  tackle 
Altamish,  if  indeed  he  be  not  within  the  Hari  Parbat 
itself." 

And  Yar  Khan  yielded.  For  the  moment  affairs 
were  moving  too  fast  for  him. 

"  Very  well,  your  Excellency,  so  be  it.  The  Lady 
Miriam  will  now  leave  us  and  go  to  her  apartments." 

But  he  had  counted  without  that  lady.  She  had 
enjoyed  the  fruits  of  excitement  and  action  for  some 
hours  now,  and  she  was  not  going  to  be  relegated  to 
a  back  seat  at  the  nautch. 

"  The  Lady  Miriam  will  accompany  His  Excellency 
and  his  soldiers  to  the  Hari  Parbat,  and  will  then  ride 
with  him  through  the  town  that  all  the  world  may  know 
that  we  have  returned  and  the  story  of  His  Excellency 
having  been  killed  is  untrue." 

Yar  Khan  shrugged  his  shoulders,  as  well  he  might, 
and  said  nothing.  If  the  Lady  Miriam  had  made  up 
her  mind  there  was  nothing  more  to  be  said,  and  it  was 


THE   NIGHT  RIDE  129 

only  one  more  example  of  the  eternal  tiresomeness 
of  feminines.  So  he  contented  himself  with  demanding 
of  Inayat  Ullah  an  account  of  the  number  of  soldiers 
available  for  duty  in  the  fort.  Of  these  the  sixty 
men  forming  the  balance  of  Habib  Ullah's  bodyguard 
squadron  were  ordered  to  join  David's  party,  and  after 
some  sharp  instructions  to  Inayat  Ullah  as  to  the  care 
of  the  palace,  the  party  struck  off  again  to  Hari 
Parbat,  by  the  road  which  would  cross  the  river  Jhelum 
by  the  Amiran  Kadal.  Now  it  will  be  remembered 
that  it  was  near  to  this  very  bridge  that  Altamish 
was  to  meet  his  friends  that  morning,  and  accompany 
them  to  seize  the  Shergarhi,  and  generally  take  steps 
to  insure  that  Altamish  should  be  accepted  as  the 
de  facto  ruler  of  Kashmir. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE    REWARD    OF   REBELLION 

THE  sight  of  the  wounded  Goorkha  from  Hari  Parbat 
stirred  men's  minds  to  anger.  The  troopers  muttered 
and  loosed  their  weapons,  and  looked  at  David  as 
hounds  look  at  their  master.  There  were  now  ninety 
lances  in  all  eager  for  action.  David  was  talking  with 
the  Lady  Miriam. 

"  Lady,  I  insist,  and  the  Sirdar  Yar  Elian,  our  real 
master,  insists.  You  must  remain  in  the  palace. 
This  is  no  woman's  work  forward  now." 

"  Ferassa  Sahib,  and  you,  Wazir  Sahib,  understand 
me  once  and  for  all.  I  am  with  you  and  this  party,  to 
help  impress  on  the  people  of  Srinagar  that  my  brother 
has  returned.  Ferassa  Sahib  here  is  not  exactly  like 
Salabat  Khan,  being  slighter  and  fairer,  but  ho  is 
sufficiently  like  if  I  ride  by  his  side.  What  does  an 
Afghani  care  for  danger  !  I  insist  on  coming." 

Yar  Khan  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  The  girl  is 
right,  Sahib.  She  is  necessary  to  make  the  deception 
sure.  Let  her  come  and  she  will.  It  is  best  so." 

To  David  the  determination  of  the  girl  was  a  revela- 
tion. Anxious  he  would  be,  with  her  on  his  hands, 
but  stimulated  certainly,  since  what  he  had  to  do 
would  be  done  in  her  company.  At  any  rate,  the 
sooner  they  were  off  the  better.  It  was  with  a  sigh 
of  relief  that  they  saw  Yar  Khan  climb  into  his  saddle 
and  give  the  sign  to  march. 

130 


THE  REWARD  OF  REBELLION         131 

The  white  mist  lay  heavy  and  the  daylight  could  do 
little  to  pierce  it,  till  the  sun  should  get  high  above  the 
horizon.  They  clattered  through  the  gardens  of  the 
suburbs  down  the  cobbled  streets  and  over  the  Amiran 
Kadal  bridge,  without  meeting  more  than  a  half  score 
of  townsfolk  muffled  in  their  blankets,  too  cold  to 
wonder  who  took  the  road  so  early.  Through  the 
main  town  and  out  through  more  suburbs  the  party 
sped  for  an  hour,  to  find  themselves  without  incident 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill  of  Hari  Parbat. 

During  the  ride  David  and  Yar  Khan  had  been  dis- 
cussing a  plan  of  action,  but  it  was  not  till  they  were 
nearing  the  fort  that  their  ideas  came  clear. 

"  There  are  three  separate  things  we  might  do, 
Ferassa  Sahib,  and  the  longer  you  look  at  them  the 
less  you  will  like  them.  First  we  may  ride  to  the 
gate  and  demand  entrance  in  the  Governor's  name. 
Do  you  think  that  will  be  listened  to  ?  More  like  a 
bullet  in  your  abdomen.  Again;  we  may  simply  advance 
to  the  attack,  try  to  blow  in  the  lock  of  the  gate  with 
our  pistols  and  scale  the  walls.  You  are  an  old  enough 
soldier  to  see  little  chance  of  success  in  that." 

"  True,  Khan  Sahib,  that  is  not  a  soldier's  course 
under  the  circumstances." 

"  Then,  Sir  Captain,  we  must  try  artifice.  We  must 
present  ourselves,  or  some  of  us,  at  the  gates  and 
demand  admission  in  the  name  of  Altamish." 

"I  see  what  you  mean.  A  small  party,  even  two 
or  three,  get  in  and  hold  the  open  gate  ?  " 

"  That  is  about  it.  Let  us  send  Habib  Ullah  first  ;  he 
is  well  known  as  a  frequenter  of  courtesans'  courts,  and 
they  will  believe  that  he  is  in  the  revolution.  He 
and  this  Kommadan  are  probably  boon  companions." 

"  I  like  not  the  sending  of  others,  Khan  Sahib,  on 
an  errand  a  man  should  do  himself." 

"  Tush,  lad,  I  know  it."    And  Yar  Khan  laid  his 


132  A  PBBELANCB  IN  KASHMIE 

hand  on  the  other's  bridle  arm.  "  But  all  must  bear 
his  share.  There  will  be  plenty  for  you  to  do,  and 
this  man  is  the  man  to  do  it.  Leaders  cannot  always 
lead.  Habib  and  half  a  dozen  of  his  own  men  must 
go  first  and  try  and  get  the  gate  open.  Call  him  up." 

Habib  came  up,  and  David  gave  him  his  instructions. 

"  Habib  Ullah  Khan.  You  are  best  known  to  the 
Kommadan  of  the  fort.  You  are  to  go  and  try  and  get 
the  gate  open.  We  shall  be  close  behind.  As  soon  as 
we  hear  a  shot  from  you  we  shall  rush  in.  Can  you 
manage  it  ?  " 

"  Excellency,  it  won't  be  my  fault  if  I  don't  get  in. 
Oh  yes,  I  know  the  Kommadan  well.  We  play  at 
sliatranj  together." 

They  came  to  the  turn  in  the  approach.  A  round 
tower  loomed  distinctly  through  the  mist. 

"  Now,  Habib  Ullah,"  said  Yar  Khan,  "  remember. 
Straight  up  to  the  gate  and  demand  admission  with 
a  message  from  the  Lord  Altamish.  Say  who  you 
are  and  that  you  have  brought  six  of  your  own  men 
with  you.  Say,  too,  that  you  have  news  that  His 
Excellency  is  really  dead,  and  that  you  have  transferred 
your  allegiance  to  Altamish.  That  will  go  down.  If 
it  does  not,  we  are  no  worse  than  we  are  now.  And  I 
don't  think  that  Altamish  himself  will  be  up  at  the 
fort  by  this  hour.  So  off  with  you,  and  may  Allah 
protect  you." 

"  I  will  take  Muhammad  Akbar  Ghilzai  with  me; 
and  the  five  men  in  his  section.  .  .  .  Here  you, 
Muhammad  Akbar  !  Hand  over  your  horses  to  the 
men  behind  you.  Loose  your  swords,  and  come  here 
round  me." 

So  saying,  Habib  Ullah  explained  to  his  little  party 
what  he  intended  to  do,  while  Yar  Khan  stood  by  and 
nodded  approval,  and  David  listened  over  his  shoulder. 
In  five  minutes  Habib  Ullah  and  his  men  moved  on 


THE  REWARD  OF  REBELLION         133 

up  the  paved  roadway.  And  Yar  Khan  followed  with 
David  and  the  rest  of  the  troopers,  less  only  horse  - 
holders  and  three  soldiers  under  old  Ganesha  Singh, 
left  as  personal  escort  to  Miriam. 

Yar  Khan  and  David  were  to  follow  as  close  to  the 
gate  as  the  fog  would  permit  unseen,  and  then  wait 
for  the  sound  of  a  shot  or  a  summons  from  Habib 
Ullah.  Yar  Khan,  who  had  stepped  slightly  ahead, 
soon  found  that  he  could  make  out  the  blurred  outline 
of  the  gateway,  and  returned  to  halt  his  party.  For 
five  minutes — five  slow  minutes — they  waited,  David 
watching  the  rigid  face  of  the  older  man  with  some 
interest.  Then  a  pistol  shot  came  down  the  breeze, 
smothered  to  some  extent  by  mist  but  clearly  a  pistol 
shot.  Yar  Khan  called  to  David,  and  his  men,  and  they 
doubled  up  the  remainder  of  the  causeway.  As  they 
advanced  two  more  pistol  shots  came  down  to  tbem, 
this  time  distincter.  In  a  minute  more  they  saw  the 
gateway  open,  with  a  struggle  in  progress. 

Habib  Ullah  had  obeyed  instructions,  and  walking 
boldly  up  to  the  gate  had  loudly  called  to  the  guard 
to  admit  him.  An  officer  of  the  garrison  from  the 
parapet  above,  outside  the  guardhouse,  called  out  to 
know  who  sought  admission. 

"  It  is  I,  the  Sirdar  Habib  Ullah  Khan,  commandant 
of  the  bodyguard  of  the  late  Governor  Salabat  Khan. 
I  have  now  joined  the  newly  declared  Governor  of 
Kashmir,  the  Lord  Al tarnish.  I  have  come  here  by 
his  direction  to  wait  on  the  Kommadan  with  certain 
orders  and  instructions,  I  also  am  to  place  the  five 
men  I  have  with  me  at  his  disposal  should  he  desire 
their  services." 

This  address  had  been  sufficient.  The  door  had 
been  opened,  i.e.  a  small  wicket  in  the  main  gate 
studded  with  iron  spikes  to  prevent  elephants  from 
pushing  it  in,  and  Habib  Ullah  was  bidden  to  advance 


131  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

with  one  of  his  men.  The  moment,  however,  that  he 
had  got  his  foot  inside  the  gateway,  he  called  to  his 
men,  who  rushed  in  and  jammed  the  door  open.  Habib 
Ullah  then  fired  his  pistol  into  the  guard  inside,  who 
were  drawn  up  across  the  inner  gateway.  Taken  aback, 
the  latter  broke  into  the  courtyard  leaving  both  gates 
in  Habib  Ullah's  hand.  But  the  officer  of  the  guard 
who  had  spoken  to  Habib  Ullah  from  the  top  of  tho 
gateway,  now  saw  that  he  was  in  for  serious  trouble, 
and  calling  on  his  men  to  follow,  threw  himself  on 
Habib,  striking  with  a  doubled-handed  sword  at  the 
latter's  head.  Habib  Ullah  had  but  time  to  throw 
up  a  weak  guard,  which  was  battered  down,  bringing 
him  to  his  knee.  Seeing  this,  the  dumbfounded  guard 
rushed  in  with  shouts  on  the  small  body  of  new-comers. 
But  Habib  Ullah's  shot  had  brought  David  and  the 
others  on  the  scene.  Arriving  at  the  wicket  gate, 
they  soon  rushed  through,  David  and  Yar  Khan 
leading,  the  former  excited  but  restrained,  the  latter 
alert,  set,  and  determined.  Yar  Khan  rushed  straight 
at  the  officer  who  had  struck  down  Habib  Ullah,  and 
settled  his  count  with  a  jab  from  his  Afghan  knife 
well  under  the  right  rib.  By  this  time  the  whole 
garrison  had  been  alarmed,  and  came  rushing  to  the 
alarm  post,  seizing  any  weapon  handy.  But  the 
arrival  of  Yar  Khan  and  David  had  effectually  broken 
through  the  resistance  at  the  gateway.  Four  of  the 
guard  lay  gasping  out  their  lives  on  the  cobbled  road- 
way, and  the  remainder  had  given  way,  Two  of 
Habib's  men  lay  badly  wounded  just  inside  the  outer 
gate,  and  Yar  Khan  was  trying  to  form  the  men  up 
preparatory  to  taking  on  the  garrison. 

"  Wait ! "  said  Yar  Khan  to  David  laconically. 
"  Wait !  Stand  out  in  front  of  the  men." 

And  David  did  so.  Then  that  which  Yar  Khan 
had  anticipated  came  to  pass,  The  garrison  was  almost 


THE  REWARD  OF  REBELLION         135 

entirely  composed  of  the  Regiment  of  Victory,  to  whom 
His  Excellency  Salabat  Khan  was  a  familiar  figure. 
As  David  stood  out  in  front  of  the  men  there  was  enough 
light  for  his  figure  to  be  recognized.  At  once  a  murmur 
arose,  and  then  the  cry,  "  The  Governor  himself  is 
here  ;  he  is  not  dead."  The  Kommadan  rushed  forward 
aghast  and  threw  himself  at  the  Governor's  feet. 

Then  David  took  the  situation  into  his  own  hands. 
"  What  in  the  name  of  the  Prophet  does  all  this  mean  ? 
How  is  it  that  I,  the  Governor  of  this  province,  have 
to  force  my  way  into  one  of  my  own  forts  ?  How  is  it 
that  my  Goorkha  soldiers  are  maimed  and  murdered, 
and  what  has  Kommadan  Muhammad  Khan  of  Kohistan, 
whom  I  placed  in  command  of  the  Regiment  of  Victory 
and  of  the  Fort  of  Hari  Parbat,  got  to  say  ?  " 

Some  one  had  lit  a  torch,  and  the  white  morning  mist 
and  the  gloom  of  the  gateway  were  lit  with  its  splut- 
tering glare.  The  scene  was  a  weird  one.  The  great 
grey  walls  and  towers,  the  arched  gateway,  the  orderly 
line  of  soldiers  behind  David,  the  confused  and  dazed 
garrison  before  him,  and  at  his  feet  the  grovelling, 
prostrate  figure  of  the  Kommadan.  Yar  Khan  saw 
that  the  tide  had  turned,  and  he  strode  out  on  to  the 
space  in  front  of  David. 

"  Fall  in  at  once,  the  Regiment  of  Victory.  Fall 
in  on  me  as  marker.  Sharp  now  !  Double  !  "  And 
the  regiment  flew,  and  in  three  minutes  was  drawn  up 
by  companies. 

"  The  Regiment  of  Victory  will  salute  His  Excel- 
lency the  Governor  !  Present — arms  !  " 

And  with  almost  tearful  alacrity  the  mutinous 
regiment  returned  to  its  fealty,  and  delivered  a  ragged 
though  earnest  salute  after  the  manner  of  the  West, 
that  had  drifted  East  through  French  and  English 
officers.  And  all  the  while  the  wretched  Kommadan 
grovelled  at  the  Governor's  feet,  His  Excellency  the 


136  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Governor  took  no  notice,  but  gravely  returned  the 
salute  and  then  called  out — 

"  The  Regiment  of  Victory  will  resume  its  duties 
as  garrison  of  Hari  Parbat.  Fall  out  the  officer  com- 
manding the  leading  company  with  twelve  men."  And 
he  did  so. 

"  Pick  up  this  grovelling  wretch  and  let  him  stand 
in  custody  before  me." 

And  Yar  Khan  stepped  out  from  the  post  he  had 
taken  at  the  head  of  the  now  repentant  regiment,  and 
placed  himself  alongside  David. 

"  Hang  him  out  of  hand  over  the  gateway,"  he 
whispered.  "  You  give  the  order,  and  I  will  see  it 
carried  out."  Then  seeing  that  David  looked  aghast, 
"  If  you  hesitate,  we  shall  not  win  through  with  this." 

To  David,  still  young  in  years  and  ill  versed  in  the 
bitterer  side  of  partisan  warfare,  the  position  was  a 
trying  one.  Here  he  was  called  on  to  be  judge  and 
jury  within  the  space  of  a  few  minutes,  and  to  condemn 
a  fellow  being  to  immediate  death.  But  as  Yar  Khan 
had  said,  it  was  touch  and  go,  and  the  situation  just 
trembling  in  their  hands  again,  must  be  clinched. 
Besides,  there  were  dead  Goorkhas,  whose  blood  cried 
aloud  for  vengeance,  and  the  Kommadan  was  deeply 
committed. 

Turning  to  the  now  trembling  wretch,  he  said, 
"  Muhammad  Khan,  Kommadan  of  the  RegimeDt  of 
Victory,  and  of  the  fort  of  Hari  Parbat,  how  comes  it 
that  I  find  my  fort  in  rebellion  held  for  another,  and 
my  faithful  Goorkha  soldiers  murdered  ?  " 

"  My  Lord,  mercy  is  yours  to  give,  and  yours  alone. 
I  believed  you  were  dead.  Altamish  the  Toork  sent 
word  to  me  that  you  were  dead,  and  that  he  was  the 
new  Governor  by  decree  from  the  Emperor.  He  bade 
me  follow  his  orders." 

"  Did  he  bid  you  kill  my  faithful  Goorkha  soldiers  ?  '! 


THE  REWARD  OF  REBELLION         137 

Then  the  Kommadan  saw  that  the  game  was  up,  and 
made  one  wild  appeal  for  mercy,  which  David,  whose 
beating  heart  was  for  the  moment  steeled  to  all  thought 
of  clemency,  disregarded. 

"Oh,  Wazir  Sahib,  Us  ten  !  I  hereby  sentence  the 
Kommadan  of  the  Regiment  of  Victory  to  be  hung 
forthwith  on  the  main  gate  of  this  fort,  as  a  warning 
to  all  who  would  tamper  with  my  authority." 

Yar  Khan  the  Wazir  promptly  ordered  Habib  Ullah 
to  take  the  Kommadan  to  the  parapet  over  the  gate 
and  hang  him  there,  while  he  himself  remained  at 
the  head  of  the  wretch's  regiment.  Without  a  moment's 
delay  the  Kommadan  was  hurried  up  the  steep  steps  to 
the  rampart  above.  Three  willing  soldiers  of  the  body- 
guard tore  down  the  flagstaff  on  the  top  and  ran  it 
out  horizontally  from  the  battlements  over  the  outer 
gateway,  turning  the  rope  that  wrapped  the  staff 
into  a  noose  at  the  end  of  the  pole.  The  Kommadan's 
hands  were  tied  behind  him,  the  noose  placed  round 
his  neck,  and  within  five  minutes  of  the  order  for  his 
execution,  Muhammad  Khan  Kohistani  was  thrown 
out  through  the  battlements  and  swung  choking  over 
the  main  gate  of  the  post  he  had  held  so  faithlessly. 

Just  as  the  foresworn  commandant  thus  paid  the 
penalty  of  his  faithlessness,  the  Lady  Miriam,  whose 
impatience  would  allow  her  to  wait  no  longer,  rode  up 
to  the  gateway  with  Ganesha  Singh,  to  whom  a  trooper 
had  brought  news  of  the  successful  occupation  of  the 
gate.  Ganesha  Singh  was  anxious  that  she  should  not 
see  the  struggling  wretch  at  the  end  of  the  rope,  but 
it  was  too  late.  With  a  shudder  of  horror,  she 
demanded  what  it  could  mean. 

"Mean?"  said  the  old  Rajput.  "Why,  lady,  it 
means  that  His  Excellency  is  coming  by  his  own 
again  ;  listen  !  " 

And  as  they  listened  they  could  hear  the  men  of 


138          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

the  garrison  cheering  lest  worse  befall.  Riding  into 
the  courtyard  she  found  the  apparently  enthusiastic 
and  frankly  loyal  garrison  being  inspected  by  David, 
and  Yar  Khan  preparing  some  written  orders  wth  the 
help  of  a  writer.  Two  Toorks,  ejnissaries  of  Altamish, 
who  had  been  in  the  fort,  were  being  dragged  out  from 
where  they  had  hidden  and  were  being  lashed  together. 
Yar  Khan  and  David  had  decided  to  send  half  the 
Regiment  of  Victory  down  to  the  Shergarhi  with  the 
two  Toork  prisoners,  while  Habib  Ullah  and  twelve 
of  his  troopers  remained  with  the  other  half  of  the 
Regiment  in  the  Hari  Par  bat  fort.  Habib  Ullah 
would  stay  in  command.  Directly  the  written  orders 
for  the  Shergarhi  were  ready  the  party  would  start  for 
there,  and  the  Governor's  party  move  down  for  their 
ride  through  the  city,  His  Excellency  and  the  Lady 
Miriam  side  by  side.  As  David  finished  examining 
the  ranks  of  the  regiment,  he  looked  back  to  find 
Miriam  on  her  horse  with  Ganesha  Singh  riding 
from  the  gate  towards  him.  He  turned  towards  her 
with  pride  and  pleasure,  pride  that  she  should  see  him 
carrying  out  his  assumed  role  with  success,  pleasure 
he  did  not  quite  know  why,  save  that  he  always 
experienced  a  pleasing  exhilaration  in  her  presence. 
Then  with  these  feelings  mingled  one  of  horror  that 
she  had  seen  the  wage  of  the  faithless,  hanging  a  horror 
and  offence  in  its  wait  for  the  morning  sun. 

"  Lady,  I  much  regret  you  should  have  come  up 
here,  the  gateway  is  no  sight  for  a  woman." 

"  Ah,  Ferassa  Sahib,  I  have  been  born  an  Afghan 
long  enough  to  know  that  blood  is  demanded  often 
with  or  without  cause.  I  am  now  content  if  I  feel 
that  men  deserve  the  death  they  die.  We  folk  of 
the  mountains  have  not  yet  learnt  to  rule  and  be  ruled 
as  men  say  you  of  the  English  rule.  But  your  Excel- 
lency " — and  here  a  dainty  smile  shone  through  the 


THE  REWARD  OF  REBELLION         139 

corners  of  her  veil — "  I  am  not  addressing  you  as  a 
subject  should  address  a  Governor  of  an  Imperial 
province.  You  have  done  well,  my  Lord,  right  well 
to  re-assert  the  Imperial  authority  in  the  face  of  those 
who  usurp  it.  What  next  do  we  do  ?  " 

Yar  Khan  had  now  come  up,  well  pleased  with  the 
morning's  work. 

"  Lady,  it  was  not  right  that  you  should  have  come 
here  without  my  orders,  or  rather  those  of  His  Excel- 
lency. Eh  !  but  you're  a  wilful  baggage,  and  have 
seen  for  your  pains  that  which  were  better  hidden." 
For  even  rugged  old  Yar  Khan  knew  that  women 
were  best  spared  the  harsher  sights  of  the  world. 

"  We  now  start  for  the  city,  as  soon  as  the  sun  lifts 
this  mist.  We  ride  by  the  Great  Mosque,  the  market 
place,  and  the  temple  of  Shah  Hamadan.  Now  comes 
your  share,  for  your  presence  will  effectively  mark  the 
fact  that  your  brother  has  returned.  Your  Excellency, 
all  is  now  ready,  and  I  have  given  all  the  orders  to 
Habib  Ullah,  and  the  Suldhdar  who  will  march  these 
prisoners  to  the  Shergarhi.  Also,  Your  Excellency, 
I  have  found  a  bag  of  cliilki  rupees,  the  property  of 
Al tarnish.  If  it  be  your  wish,  I  will  distribute  them 
to  the  Regiment  of  Victory  to  buy  sweetmeats." 

"  Sirdar  Sahib"  said  David,  "  it  is  my  wish  that 
my  regiment  be  given  the  wherewithal  to  entertain 
themselves,  the  more  especially  at  my  enemy's  expense. 
Let  it  be  as  you  desire." 

And  then  the  party  took  to  horse. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

IN  THE   STREETS   OF   SRINAGAR 

As  the  Governor's  party  left  the  Hari  Parbat  by  the 
gateway  above  which  swung  dead  and  cooling  Mu- 
hammadan  Khan,  the  Kommadan,  a  vision  wonderful 
broke  upon  their  eyes.  The  fog  had  lifted  from  the 
hilltops,  and  was  fast  dissipating,  though  it  still  hung 
like  cotton  wool  on  the  city  below.  From  the  top  of 
Hari  Parbat  hill  the  great  ring  of  mountains  stood  out 
clear  and  majestic,  rose-red  in  the  risen  sun.  The 
Dhal  Lake,  where  lay  the  dwelling  of  the  Lord  Al tarnish, 
was  still  bathed  in  fog,  but  the  circling  mountains 
caught  the  light  on  every  fold.  The  clean,  morning 
air  blew  fresh  in  their  faces  unclogged  by  the  mist,  and 
to  David  brought  a  sense  of  determination  and  a 
yearning  for  high  endeavour.  The  Lady  Miriam, 
riding  by  his  side  had  bared  her  head  to  feel  the  breeze, 
as  she  had  done  once  before  in  his  presence  stirring 
again  thereby  his  admiration  and  his  enthusiasm.  The 
beautiful  profile  stood  out  clear  cut  in  the  rising  sun 
and  spoke  of  the  true  and  steadfast  spirit  of  the  maid, 
spoke,  too,  of  the  ancient  Greeks  in  Bactria  who  could 
leave  such  beauty  behind  them.  Then  David  felt  that 
it  was  good  to  be  alive  in  such  glorious  air,  and  good 
to  have  such  a  face  to  serve,  good  to  be  young  with  the 
world  to  conquer.  To  a  beautiful  face  men  attribute  a 

140 


IN  THE  STREETS  OF  SRINAGAR       141 

beautiful  soul,  and  ever  look  for  the  motive  that  shall 
spur  them  on  to  high  endeavour  and  to  yield  their  best. 
The  desire  for  female  beauty  is  at  best  the  desire  for  a 
compelling  deity  in  whose  service  men  may  strike  their 
best  notes.  So  when  David  Eraser,  half-breed  of  two 
mountain  races,  saw  fully  bared  for  the  second  time  that 
beautiful  high-bred  profile  of  the  Lady  Miriam,  he 
knew  that  he  had  seen  the  talisman  that  was  to  evoke 
the  very  best  that  in  him  lay. 

And  when  Miriam  saw  the  look  of  homage  and 
devotion  in  the  young  man's  eyes,  she  was  first  fain, 
maidenlike,  to  draw  her  veil  over  head,  but  then 
laughed  and  desisted,  throwing  conventionalities  to 
the  wind,  and  said — 

"  See,  oh  Excellency  !  see  our  beautiful  Kashmir 
lies  at  your  feet.  See  the  Dhal  Lake  below  you  where 
emperors  have  rowed  the  ladies  of  their  court.  Far 
away  in  the  corner  under  the  mountains  is  the  Garden 
of  Pleasure,  to  which  you  also  shall  be  rowed,  and  over 
the  other  side  is  the  Shalimar,  where  great  Jehangir 
held  his  summer  court.  Say  now,  sir,  if  our  valley  is 
not  worth  preserving." 

To  all  of  which,  David,  still  backward  to  follow 
the  talk  of  fair  ladies,  had  little  to  answer.  What  he 
did  say  was  trivial  enough,  to  the  effect  that  he  was 
here  to  render  such  help  to  her  and  hers  as  in  his  power. 
But  he  thought  the  more,  nevertheless,  and  as  they 
wound  down  the  roadway  his  soldier  mind  was  busy 
with  how  to  tackle  the  forces  of  the  Toork  if  such  were 
to  present  themselves  in  the  city.  Before  long  they 
began  to  pass  from  the  clear  morning  air  of  the  hill  to 
the  white  mist  which  still  remained  in  the  lower 
regions,  but  was  fast  dissipating  even  there.  By  the 
time  they  had  arrived  at  the  main  street  and  started 
to  clatter  through  the  city  it  was  clear  enough  for 
them  to  be  recognized.  It  was  evident  that  the  story 


142  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

of  the  Governor's  death  had  been  diligently  spread. 
The  puzzled  look  on  men's  faces  as  they  first  recognized 
the  Governor  himself  was  proof  of  that.  But  there 
could  be  no  doubt  in  their  minds,  The  Governor  him- 
self with  Yar  Khan,  the  Wazir,  and  the  Lady  Miriam, 
were  actually  riding  through  the  city  accompanied  by 
the  bodyguard  of  cavalry  !  The  story  spread  like  wild- 
fire. Those  who  were  about  to  set  forth  to  do  homage 
to  the  Lord  Altamish,  whom  rumour  had  appointed  to 
the  vacant  office,  had  decided  to  postpone  their  action. 
The  Governor  was  there,  sure  enough,  wearing  his 
well-known  blue  and  gold  puggari,  with  him  that  old 
wazir.  Ha !  there  was  some  story  last  night  about 
the  fort  of  Hari  Parbat,  but,  however,  that  must  have 
been  wrong.  In  front  of  the  great  mosque  some 
hundreds  were  assembling  for  prayer,  To  them  the 
sight  of  the  cavalcade  was  a  welcome  one.  To  the 
people  generally  the  Governor  was  a  popular  entity, 
and  loud  acclamations  greeted  his  appearance  in  state, 
One  Toork  trooper,  however,  who  had  ridden  up  to 
find  the  crowd  cheering,  and  who  was  himself  a  new- 
comer to  the  valley,  imagined  it  was  the  cortege  of  the 
Lord  Altamish  or  one  of  his  principal  adherents.  He 
had  come  to  town  specially  to  support  his  compatriots 
who  were,  so  his  summons  ran,  taking  possession  of 
the  governorship.  Here  was  evidently  one  of  the 
nobles  going  to  join  the  new  governor,  or  perhaps  the 
governor  himself.  A  good  opportunity  for  him  to 
show  on  whose  side  he  was  and  gain  notice.  So,  poor 
lost  soul,  he  urged  his  horse  forward  through  the  crowd, 
shouting,  "  Fortune  to  the  Lord  Altamish !  Long  live 
our  new  Governor  !  Success  to  the  Toorks  !  "  His 
horse  caught  the  excitement  and  took  him  bounding  up 
to  the  head  of  the  column.  So  ominpus  and  threaten- 
ing did  this  appear  that  it  looked  like  an  attack  on 
David.  Whereon  old  Ganesha  Singh  flew  at  him  and 


struck  him  down  with  his  sword.  Down  went  the 
rash  Toork  and  the  passing  troopers  thrust  at  him  with 
their  lances,  and  then  the  crowd  closed  on  him.  God 
help  those  who  fall  among  an  excited  crowd  !  Very 
shortly  the  wretch's  head  was  off,  and  an  Afghan  loafer 
in  the  crowd  held  it  up.  !'  What  offers  for  the  head  of 
a  rascally  Toork  ?  "  whereat  the  crowd  pleasanted  at 
Toork  expense,  and  one  of  the  rearmost  of  David's 
escort  took  it  a-top  his  spear  and  carried  it  there  un- 
known to  those  who  rode  at  the  head  of  the  cavalcade. 
Yet,  as  emblems  go  it  was  not  a  bad  one,  when  authority 
has  been  reshaken  and  is  coming  by  its  own  again. 

Near  the  mosque  of  Shah  Hammadan  there  was  a 
larger  crowd,  who  cheered,  and  to  whom  the  head  on 
a  spear  was  unmixed  delight.  Attracted  by  the  noise, 
the  Abbe  himself,  who  had  returned  to  his  quiet  hovel 
to  see  some  of  his  patients,  emerged  into  the  street. 
He  was  but  in  time  to  see  the  tail  of  the  party  with  the 
Toork  head  on  a  pole,  and  a  strange  shudder  it  had 
given  him.  Heads  on  poles  had  been  frequent  enough 
sights  in  the  Terror,  but  especially  did  it  strike  a 
painful  chord  in  his  memory,  since  he  had  seen  the 
beautiful  head  of  poor  La  Lamballe  waved  at  the  window 
where  he  had  been  sitting  with  the  royal  party,  listening 
to  the  howling  crowd  that  they  could  not  restrain. 
Difference  enough,  true,  between  the  head  of  a  wild 
worthless  Toork  trooper  and  that  glorious  golden  head 
of  poor  beautiful  Lamballe,  save  that  both  had  been 
cut  off  in  the  heyday  of  life,  but  for  loving  memory  of 
the  one  poor  head,  Armande  du  Plessis  demanded  the 
other  of  the  trooper  who  carried  it  lance-high.  Whereon 
the  latter,  knowing  the  mysterious  white  padre  who 
cured  the  sick,  when  all  other  hakims  failed,  threw  him 
the  head  as  a  man  would  toss  a  bun  to  a  bear,  and  the 
padre  took  it  and  wrapped  it  in  cloth  and  hid  it  to  give 
it  decent  burial  later  in  the  day, 


144  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Now  it  will  be  remembered  that  at  seven  o'clock  on 
that  very  morning  Altamish  was  to  meet  his  supporters 
with  their  available  men-at-arms,  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Amiran  Kadal  Bridge  on  the  Jhelum  river.  But  the 
foggy  morning,  and  the  rolling  mist  had  sent  many  off 
the  road,  and  Altamish  and  Wali  Dad  and  his  own 
retainers  had  to  wait  for  a  couple  of  hours  and  more 
while  the  parties  slowly  dribbled  in,  and  Altamish 
himself  foamed  and  fumed  at  the  delay.  He  was 
soldier  enough  to  know  that  if  success  was  to  smile  on 
his  endeavours  they  must  be  promptly  and  vigorously 
carried  out.  Among  those  who  had  joined  him  was 
the  mysterious  stranger  who  had  put  in  an  appearance 
at  the  garden-party  the  day  before  in  the  Garden  of 
Sweet  Breezes.  That  stranger,  it  will  also  be  remem- 
bered, had  shown  some  mysterious  power  that  Altamish 
had  at  once  given  way  to.  As  the  latter  with  the 
stranger  sat  in  the  gardens  on  the  far  side  of  the  bridge 
watching  the  mist  roll  away  and  inwardly  cursing 
those  of  his  supporters  who  for  one  reason  or  another 
had  failed  at  the  rendez-vous,  the  head  of  David's  party 
came  into  sight.  Never  dreaming  but  that  they  were 
some  of  the  missing  partisans,  Altamish  and  the 
stranger  galloped  towards  them.  It  was  too  late  to 
break  away  before  Altamish  found  himself,  to  his 
intense  astonishment,  ranged  alongside  no  less  a 
person  than  the  Governor  of  Kashmir,  His  Excellency 
Salabat  Khan,  who  on  the  surest  information  he 
believed  to  be  lying  wounded  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Pir  Panjal.  Yar  Khan  had  been  quick  to  recognize 
the  sirdar,  and  at  once  signed  to  half  a  dozen  men  to 
surround  the  party,  and  at  the  same  time  whispered  to 
David,  "  It's  the  Lord  Altamish,  that  infernal  Toork, 
speak  him  fair." 

And  once  again  David  rose  to  the  occasion. 

"  My  Lord,  yon  are  well  come  indeed.    I  hear  some 


IN  THE  STREETS  OF  SRINAGAR       145 

tales  of  rebellion  and  of  factions  who  would  supplant 
my  governorship.  I  am  indeed  satisfied  to  see  that 
you  are  about  in  my  interests.  Know  you  ought  of 
these  alleged  disturbances  ?  My  troops  here  would 
gladly  have  at  those  who  would  harm  me." 

"  Nay,  your  Excellency !  I  have  no  knowledge. 
Over  the  way  are  some  gentlemen  assembling  with  a 
view  to  putting  their  retainers  at  your  Excellency's 
disposal.  Allow  me  to  present  this  gentleman  to 

you." 

And  here  Altamish  drew  back,  and  the  mysterious 
stranger  was  visible,  and  bowed  to  His  Excellency. 
And  as  he  bowed,  lo  !  a  look  of  comprehension  spread 
over  the  stranger's  face.  To  David  also  a  similar 
knowledge  came.  It  was  none  other  than  Daoud 
Shah,  whom  he  had  last  seen  at  the  campo  of  the 
Begum  Somru. 

"  My  Lord,"  said  David,  "  I  ride  out  now  to  the 
Shergarhi,  whither  I  trust  you  will  accompany  me." 

To  which  Altamish  made  no  reply,  relying  on  chance 
to  put  suitable  words  into  his  mouth  as  the  morning 
wore  on,  but  signified,  however,  his  apparent  willing- 
ness by  ranging  himself  alongside  David,  and  all  the 
while  Yar  Khan  said  not  a  word,  nor  showed  by  any 
sign  what  his  thoughts  were,  or  even  that  he  saw  the 
Toork  at  all.  Daoud  Shah,  late  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  forces  of  Her  Highness  the  Begum  Somru,  fell 
into  the  train  of  horsemen  that  rode  behind  the 
Governor,  and  found  himself  alongside  Ganesha  Singh, 
who  took  no  notice  of  him  whatever,  nor  did  Daoud 
Shah  know  even  whether  or  no  David  had  recognized 
him.  Ganesha  Singh  he  had  not  noticed  in  the  Begum's 
camp,  and  did  not  recognize  now.  Not  so  the  lynx- 
eyed  old  Rajpoot,  who  had  spotted  him  from  the  first. 

By  now  the  cavalcade  had  come  on  to  the  Amiran 
Kadal,  and  they  might,  though  they  knew  it  not,  come 

L 


146          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

at  any  moment  on  the  parties  of  the  faction  of  Altamish. 
As  the  Governor  and  his  escort  had  come  near  to  the 
bridge  they  had  found  themselves  in  a  part  of  the  town 
to  which  Salabat  Khan  was  very  dear.  Loud  had 
been  the  lamentations  at  the  rumours  of  his  decease. 
There  were  now  cheers  and  shouts  and  an  ominous 
execrating  of  the  Toork.  To  the  Abbe  du  Plessis,  who 
had  followed  in  the  wake  of  the  horsemen,  the  import 
of  the  sound  was  old.  He  had  heard  the  old  men  talk 
of  it  when  the  Edict  of  Nantes  was  revoked.  It  re- 
minded him  of  the  old  chaunt  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Eve,  that  his  father  had  remembered  revived  at  the 
Ee vocation.  The  words  ran  in  his  ears,  "  Hau  Hau 
Huguenots  I  Faites  Place  aux  Papegots  !  "  The  words 
were  different,  but  there  was  an  angry  hum  in  the  air, 
the  hum  of  an  angry  crowd  that  was  out  for  mischief. 
And  the  Lord  Altamish  heard  it  too,  and  recognized 
it,  and  thanked  his  stars  that  things  had  turned  out  as 
they  had.  Salabat  Khan  living  was  a  very  different 
matter  to  tackle  to  Salabat  Khan  dead  and  gone.  So 
that  it  would  be  necessary  to  put  a  good  complexion 
on  the  assembly  of  armed  men  that  were  awaiting 
Altamish  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  The  mist  had 
by  now  almost  gone,  and  the  sun  was  shining  on  the 
houses  that  overhung  the  river-bed,  and  on  the  carved 
plinths  that  edged  the  water,  stolen  from  the  Pandav 
temples  that  lay  in  ruins  up  the  valley.  On  the  boat- 
steps  and  on  the  plinths  and  terraces  women  were  now 
filling  earthen  jars  with  water,  bathing,  washing  their 
coloured  scarves,  and  flooding  the  whole  foreground 
with  warmth  and  colour  that  was  a  pleasant  change 
to  those  who  had  ridden  the  night  through  in  frost  and 
fog.  The  Lady  Miriam  looked  at  David  and  smiled  for 
a  moment  through  that  convenient  opening  in  her  veil 
that  she  was  learning  to  handle  so  cunningly.  Then 
her  face  set  somewhat,  and  she  drew  her  veil  sharply 


IN  THE   STEEETS  OF  SBINAGAB      147 

together.  They  were  approaching  a  row  of  latticed 
verandahs  where  beauty  fair  and  frail  held  sway. 
Spangled  heads  smiled  out  of  the  open  lattice,  and 
hands  waved  to  the  troopers  of  the  escort.  The  fine 
figure  of  the  Governor  himself  always  attracted  the 
attention  of  women,  and  in  quarters  such  as  these,  where 
the  attributes  of  prominent  males  were  eagerly  dis- 
cussed, there  were  many  heads  out  of  their  jilmills  *  to 
see  him.  In  the  booths  below,  the  various  merchants 
had  opened  their  stalls  for  the  day,  and  fruit,  tobacco, 
and  grains  were  being  arranged  on  the  steps  of  the 
house  fronts.  Every  one  was  agog  to  see  the  Governor 
whom  bazaar  gossip  last  night  had  reported  dead. 
It  was  seen,  too,  that  his  sister,  who  was  so  often  about 
with  him,  was  riding  by  his  side  this  day. 

The  sharp  eye  of  Yar  Khan  had,  however,  seen  some 
lancos  and  the  tips  of  horses'  ears  showing  over  tho 
mud  walls  of  the  gardens  on  the  other  side  of  the  bridge. 
Edging  his  horse  alongside  to  Altamish,  he  said — 

"  Those  are  your  men,  no  doubt,  my  Lord  ?  " 

"  My  men  ?    Oh,  yes  !  yes  !    No  doubt !  " 

"  You  don't  seem  very  certain,  my  Lord.  If  His 
Excellency  approves,  I  will  take  fifty  troopers  forward 
and  go  and  see. — Your  Excellency  would  no  doubt 
desire  that  I  should  attack  them,  if  not  my  Lord  Alta- 
mish's  own  following,  of  which  fact  he  seems  doubtful  ?  " 

David  looked  at  the  place  indicated,  and  then  turned 
to  look  at  Altainish. 

"  Nay,  Wazir  Sahib,  we  will  all  move  forward  to- 
gether, my  Lord  with  us.  He  can  then  reassure  us 
that  they  are  his  own  men,  and  I  can  order  an  attack 
on  them  at  once,  if  need  be." 

Altamish  by  no  means  relished  the  situation.    How- 
ever, there  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  acquiesce,  and 
trust  to  events.    David  then  led  the  party  at  a  smart 
*  Venetian  blinds. 


148          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

pace  over  the  bridge  and  up  the  short  steep  piece  of 
bazaar  on  the  opposite  bank,  coming  at  once  to  an  open 
space  surrounded  by  walls  and  gardens.  On  this  were 
drawn  up  some  two  hundred  retainers  of  several 
Toork  chiefs,  not  more  than  half,  however,  of  those 
promised  the  day  before.  David  decided  to  take  the 
nettle  danger  by  the  hand  of  action. 

"  My  Lord,  these  troopers  are  more  than  are  necessary 
for  my  assistance.  You  will  remain  with  us,  but  issue 
orders  that  these  gentlemen  leave  the  city  and  its 
suburbs  at  once.  If  in  an  hour's  time  there  are  any 
of  them  left  in  the  city,  they  will  be  at  once  attacked 
by  my  troops.  You  understand  ?  " 

Altamish  was  fain  to  admit  that  he  did.  By  this 
time  the  Toork  leaders  had  recognized  that  it  was  both 
Altamish  and  the  Governor  himself.  With  a  very 
distinct  feeling  of  being  on  a  fool's  errand,  three  or 
four  of  them  rode  forward  on  receiving  a  summons 
from  Altamish.  That  astute  gentleman  had  by  now 
recovered  his  equanimity,  and,  however  much  in  his 
heart  he  might  be  calling  for  fire  from  heaven,  he  knew 
well  enough  that  he  must  dissemble. 

"  Gentlemen,  you  will  be  glad  to  see  with  your  own 
eyes  that  the  sad  rumours  of  yesterday  are  falsified. 
Our  noble  Governor  is  safe  and  sound.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary for  us  to  maintain  order  till  the  Emperor  appoints 
a  successor.  His  Excellency  thanks  you  for  your 
offered  services,  and  now  desires  that  you  at  once  leave 
the  city  and  return  to  your  own  estates." 

After  which  David  could  not  resist  a  little  sarcasm 
at  Altamish's  expense. 

"  Your  assistance  is  very  welcome  to  me,  my  Lord. 
It  is  well  with  those  in  authority  when  they  can  rely 
on  such  staunch  support.  I  suppose  all  is  well  at  fort 
Hari  Parbat  ?  I  have  half  a  mind  to  ask  you  to  go  and 
see  on  my  behalf." 


IN  THE   STREETS  OF  SRINAGAR      149 

The  ruddy  colour  loft  the  olive  check  of  Altamish  at 
the  reference,  but  the  suggestion  appealed  to  him. 
Anywhere  away  from  the  Shergarhi  seemed  a  haven 
of  rest  and  safety. 

"  Your  Excellency,  it  would  be  well  doubtless  that 
I  should  go  and  report." 

"Ah,  well,  my  Lord,  no  doubt  all  is  well  there ;  at 
any  rate,  we  will  wait  for  a  bit.  I  would  that  you 
accompany  me  to  the  Shergarhi." 

Yar  Khan  sat  immobile  behind  David,  and  only  a 
gleam  in  his  eye  showed  that  he  appreciated  the  humour 
of  the  situation.  It  was  evident  that  he  was  content 
with  David's  handling  of  it.  Now  Yar  Khan  liked  not 
as  a  rule  playing  second  fiddle  to  any  man,  more 
especially  when  that  man  was  of  his  own  erecting.  It 
spoke  therefore  volumes  for  David's  character  that 
the  old  soldier  statesman  should  accept  him  so  con- 
tentedly, and  let  him,  at  any  rate  for  the  moment,  call 
the  pace. 

So,  as  the  Toork  gentry  filed  away,  David  and  his 
retinue  headed  for  the  Shergarhi,  which  lay  some  two 
miles  west  from  the  Amiran  Kadal.  At  his  side  rode 
Altamish  and  Yar  Khan,  and  behind  was  the  Lady 
Miriam  with  Ganesha  Singh  close  to  her.  By  them, 
but  a  bit  wide,  rode  Daoud  Shah,  silent  but  watchful. 
The  unusual  sight  of  a  lady  a-horseback  veiled  and  on 
such  an  occasion,  had  already  attracted  his  attention, 
and  he  took  opportunity  to  study  her  in  profile  as  they 
moved  to  the  Shergarhi.  That  she  was  a  practised 
horsewoman  was  evident,  and  she  sat  her  horse  like  an 
Usbeg  trooper,  as  if  born  to  it.  The  breeze  blew  the 
veil  close  to  her  face  and  showed  the  symmetrical 
outline.  Presently  Altamish  dropped  back  to  speak 
to  him,  and  Daoud  Shah  demanded — 

"  Who  rides  on  my  left  ?    A  woman,  seemingly  ?  " 

"  That  must  be  the   Lady   Miriam,  sister   of  the 


150  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Governor,  a  self-willed  woman  who  is  allowed  much 
license.  She  always  accompanies  her  brother,  and  has 
been  away  now  with  him  over  the  pass,  and  was  with 
him  at  the  time  of  the  Rajpoot  affray." 

"  A  handsome  woman,  I  warrant." 

"  No  doubt.  These  Afghanis  always  are.  It  is  not 
much  use  your  thinking  about  that,  Khan  Sahib." 

"  Why  not,  since  I  too  am  a  Duranni  of  the  blood 
royal  ?  Not  that  I  want  to  be  mixed  up  with  women 
at  the  present  time." 

"  'T wouldn't  much  help  you  if  you  did.  That  girl 
has  refused  many  a  good  offer  of  marriage  from  better 
men  than  you,  and  instead  of  giving  her  to  the  friend 
that  he  needed  most,  her  brother  laughs  and  says  she 
shall  do  as  she  likes.  A  fine  mother  of  sons  all  the 
same,  friend." 

"  Aye,  no  doubt,  no  doubt.  You  had  better  go  back 
and  talk  with  that  Governor.  Keep  him  in  a  good 
temper  or  you'll  bo  sorry  for  the  morning's  work." 

The  Afghan  rode  on  alone,  now  and  again  glancing 
at  Miriam.  The  story  had  fired  him.  Ho  was  not 
wont  to  be  told  things  were  impossible,  besides,  he  did 
want  a  wife  and  that  a  metalsome  one.  And  the  way 
that  Miriam  managed  her  horse  inspired  him  with 
admiration,  as  her  trim  figure  did  with  desire. 


GHAPTEE  XV 

THE    SHERGARHI 

OUTSIDE  the  Shergarhi  they  came  across  the  wing  of 
the  Eegiment  of  Victory,  returning  from  the  Hari 
Parbat  with  the  two  Toork  prisoners.  Yar  Khan  had 
now  the  Lord  Altamish  in  hand,  and  as  they  came 
abreast  the  infantry  he  remarked — 

"  Did  I  tell  you  what  had  taken  place  at  the  Hari 
Parbat  ?  No  ?  Ah,  well,  it  was  like  this.  We  found 
that  the  commandant  had  apparently  proclaimed  him- 
self as  ruler  of  the  place  or  as  governor  of  the  valley. 
If  you  would  know  how  he  fared,  go  see  the  gateway 
tower  there.  Some  of  His  Majesty  the  Emperor's 
Goorkha  soldiers  were  murdered  in  the  revolution.  We 
found  there  two  emissaries  of  whoever  was  fomenting 
the  disturbances.  They  are  now  being  brought  here 
for  His  Excellency's  orders  as  to  their  execution." 

And  Altamish  saw  in  their  midst  two  of  his  own  Toork 
retainers,  who  looked  up  in  his  face  as  their  escort 
marched  past  him. 

"  You  will  see,  my  Lord,  that  happily  for  the  sake  of 
peace  and  order,  the  Eegiment  of  Victory  has  returned 
to  its  allegiance.  His  Excellency,  however,  thought  it 
as  well  to  bring  them  here,  where  they  would  be  under 
sound  influence.  If  I  had  had  my  way,  I  would  have 
shot  every  man  in  ten.  His  Excellency  thought  other- 
wise. He  will  perhaps  be  glad  of  your  advice  as  to  how 
to  deal  with  these  two  prisoners." 

151 


152  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Altamish  was  getting  into  a  very  unpleasant  posi- 
tion indeed,  and  he  was  faced  with  the  alternatives 
of  sacrificing  his  own  followers,  or  admitting  his  own 
share  in  the  conduct  of  the  commandant  of  Hari 
Parbat.  It  was,  perhaps,  hardly  wise  of  Yar  Khan  to 
press  him  so  hard,  unless  indeed  it  was  proposed  to  take 
extreme  measures  against  him.  The  policy  of  the 
golden  bridge  must  always  be  at  any  rate  considered. 
Fortunately,  they  had  arrived  at  the  gate  of  the 
Shergarhi,  and  Yar  Khan  ceased  his  goading  at  the 
hated  Toork. 

He  rode  up  to  David,  and  asked  what  he  thought 
about  Altamish. 

"  If  we  take  him  as  prisoner  we  shall  have  half  these 
Toorks  up  in  arms.  We  are  now  apparently  safely 
back  in  power.  I  would  gladly  hack  off  his  foul  head, 
but  it  were  wisest  to  deny  ourselves  the  satisfaction. 
I  propose  that  we  now  give  him  leave  to  depart. 
When  His  Excellency  returns  he  will  decide  whether 
he  will  take  steps  against  him.  So  long  as  he  is  not  in 
open  rebellion  against  us,  it  is  difficult  to  act  too  strongly 
against  him  without  the  Emperor's  orders.  If  we  could 
have  had  a  fight  and  killed  him,  it  would  have  saved 
much  trouble." 

To  which  David,  whose  natural  instinct  to  command 
had  for  the  time  made  him  forget  that  he  was  merely  a 
tenant  for  a  few  days  in  a  state  he  knew  little  of,  could 
but  agree.  Not  that  he  had  for  a  moment  thought  any 
other  course  possible,  but  he  was  about  to  propound 
some  such  views  as  his  own. 

"  Very  well,  Wazir  Sahib,  I  agree.  I  will  now  give 
him  his  leave  to  go. " 

Then,  turning  to  the  Toork,  "  My  Lord,  I  shall  not 
trouble  you  further.  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  having 
turned  out  with  your  retainers  to  enforce  order  in  this 
my  province.  You  will  confer  a  further  favour  if  you 


THE   SHERGAEHI  153 

will  inform  mo  of  any  facts  that  may  come  to  your 
notice  concerning  this  extraordinary  occurrence  at  fort 
Hari  Parbat.  You  now  have  my  permission  to 
leave." 

"  Sire,"  returned  Altamish,  "  I  see  two  Toorks  as 
prisoners  among  your  regiment.  Would  it  not  be  well 
that  I  take  them  with  me  to  find  out  the  reason  of  their 
being  found  in  your  Excellency's  fort  under  such 
suspicious  circumstances  ?  " 

"  Nay,  my  Lord.  It  is  my  purpose  at  present  that 
they  remain  here.  I  shall  not  pass  any  extreme 
sentence  on  them  without  reference  to  you,  but  they 
will  remain  in  my  prison  for  the  present." 

"  Have  I  your  permission  to  have  speech  with  them  ?" 

"  Surely,  my  Lord,  the  permission  to  depart  that  I 
gave  you  should  suffice  for  your  present  needs.  I 
would  not  wish  to  withdraw  it." 

The  Lord  Altamish  then  saw  that  the  game  was  up 
for  the  present,  and  wheeled  his  small  party  about, 
saluted  surlily,  and  galloped  away  down  the  road. 
And  with  him  still  was  Daoud  Shah  the  Afghan. 

The  Governor's  party  then  filed  through  the  gate  of 
the  Shergarhi,  where  the  guard  and  garrison  were 
drawn  up  to  receive  them  amid  acclamations.  Inside 
the  palace  yard,  the  normal  routine  was  in  progress. 
Below  the  latticed  windows  of  the  ladies'  quarters  in 
front  of  the  closed  gateway,  two  of  the  palace  guard 
paced.  Astrakhan  caps  on  their  heads,  their  muskets 
in  long  baize  bags,  and  a  curved  knife  of  terrifying 
proportions  in  their  belts,  the  guardians  of  beauty 
looked  ferocious  and  dauntless  enough. 

Outside  the  durbar  room  of  the  commandant  of  the 
fort,  an  elephant  weaved  happily  from  foot  to  foot,  the 
hunting  pad  on  his  back  gently  swaying.  Munshis, 
with  their  lacquer  pen  boxes,  sat  writing  for  dear  life, 
or  hurriedly  mended  their  reed  pens.  The  ordinary 


154          A  FKEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

working  routine  of  the  government  was  evidently  not 
paralyzed.  In  a  corner  of  the  first  court  an  armourer 
was  hammering  at  a  shirt  of  mail,  and  two  saddlers  sat 
mending  some  camel  trappings.  Four  pieces  of  artillery 
of  sorts  on  rather  rickety  carriages  were  being  cleaned 
by  some  lascars,  and  a  couple  of  mounted  troopers  were 
waiting  to  carry  messages.  It  was,  in  fact,  an  every- 
day scene  in  an  Eastern  palace  yard.  Behind  the 
screens  over  the  inner  gate  the  wives  of  the  Governor 
watched  eagerly  for  the  arrival  of  their  spouse  and 
noted  with  approval  the  promptness  with  which  the 
garrison  had  got  under  arms  to  receive  him.  Yes,  it 
was  undoubtedly  their  Salabat  Khan,  safe  and  sound, 
thinner  perhaps,  but  that  was  no  doubt  due  to  much 
travel.  They  would  soon  put  that  right.  Let  the 
state  cook  be  sent  for.  And  then  and  there,  while 
David  was  dismounting,  the  Lady  Nur  Jan  had  called 
for  that  person,  and  he  had  appeared  at  the  outer  grill 
to  receive  very  precise  orders  as  to  the  meals  to  be 
prepared  for  His  Excellency. 

In  the  meantime  His  Excellency  was  for  the  moment 
far  more  concerned  with  seeing  the  Lady  Miriam  off 
her  horse,  than  thinking  of  his  wives  upstairs.  He  had 
actually  gone  to  help  her  alight — a  European  courtesy 
that  that  young  lady  was  not  slow  to  notice.  The 
eventful  night  and  day  had  left  her  fairly  weary,  lithe 
and  elastic  though  she  was,  and  for  the  moment  she 
was  divided  between  an  intense  desire  to  rest  on  the 
soft  velvet  cushions  of  her  own  apartment,  and  an 
unaccountable  instinctive  wish  to  remain  with  David, 
She  had  watched  him  closely  through  his  somewhat 
anxious  day,  and  had  noted  appreciatively  his  steady, 
determined  bearing,  and  had  taken  a  pride  in  his 
success  in  the  rdle  which  she  had  been  the  first  to 
suggest.  She  had  noticed,  too,  with  amusement 
that  Yar  Khan  had  almost  cheerfully  accepted  the 


THE   SHEKGARHI  155 

second  place  when  David  had  chosen  to  direct  the 
proceedings. 

We  may  therefore  well  imagine  that  when  David 
had  handed  her  from  her  horse,  the  elusive  veil  had 
come  apart  again  at  the  right  moment,  and  David  was 
once  more  able  to  look  into  those  bright  eyes  that  now 
undoubtedly  flashed  approval.  Time,  however,  fingers 
on  his  rosary.  One  kindly  look  and  her  ladyship  had 
disappeared  into  the  ladies'  apartments,  while  the 
escort  had  looked  on  stolidly,  but  with  inward  wonder 
at  the  way  in  which  His  Excellency  treated  his  un- 
conventional sister. 

Yar  Khan  then  collected  a  few  chosen  guards  around 
him  and  escorted  David  to  his  quarters.  Fortunately, 
the  quarters,  the  dwelling  and  business  rooms  in  an 
Eastern  mansion,  are  well  away  from  the  ladies'  apart- 
ments, and  there  was  no  chance  of  anxious  wdves 
bursting  in  on  the  master  when  engaged  in  business  or 
at  rest.  But  since  there  had  been  wild  rumours  in  the 
air  that  morning,  it  was  important  to  send  a  message 
over  to  the  ladies  with  due  ceremony.  It  had,  of 
course,  been  also  arranged  that  Miriam  should  make 
a  suitable  statement.  Yar  Khan  himself,  as  soon  as 
David  had  sat  down  to  a  meal  in  Salabat  Khan's 
private  apartments,  had  gone  off  to  see  the  official 
charged  with  communicating  with  His  Excellency's 
ladies'  attendants,  and  delivering  a  message  to  say  that 
His  Excellency  sent  all  greetings  of  courtesy  and  respect, 
but  was  immensely  fatigued  with  a  long  ride,  which 
the  Lady  Miriam  would  describe,  and  after  a  rest  would 
have  to  attend  to  very  pressing  affairs  of  state, 

"  That,"  Yar  Khan  told  David,  "  will  keep  them 
quiet  for  some  time  to  come,  and  an  attack  of  fever 
will  be  the  most  natural  sequence  to  a  long  day's 
travel." 

But  the  problem  before  the  Wazir  was  an  anxious 


156  A  FEEELANCE   IN   KASHMIR 

one.  True,  all  the  first  moves  had  been  more  successful 
than  he  could  have  hoped  for.  The  attempt  to  over- 
turn the  government  had  failed  and  been  thwarted 
with  far  greater  ease  than  he  dared  have  looked  for. 
But  several  far  greater  dangers  were  really  ahead. 
The  imposture  of  Ferassa  Sahib  could  not  go  on  for 
long.  They  had  as  yet  no  news  as  to  how  Salabat 
Khan's  wound  progressed,  or  what  he  would  eventually 
order,  when  the  news  of  the  situation  had  reached  him. 
He  had  not  yet  been  told,  of  course,  of  the  David  im- 
posture. It  would  be  necessary  to  tell  him  carefully. 
Eastern  minds  are  suspicious,  and  Yar  Khan  was 
anxious  that  the  step  they  had  taken  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment  should  not  be  misunderstood.  Happily  the 
Lady  Miriam  was  there  to  vouch  for  the  purity  of 
their  motives,  nay,  better,  to  explain  that  she  herself 
had  proposed  the  course. 

So  musing,  Yar  Khan  left  David  to  rest,  saying  that 
he  would  come  to  him  in  the  afternoon,  and  that  he 
had  given  orders  to  the  guard  that  no  one  was  to  be 
admitted. 

The  hard  old  man  had  no  need  for  rest  himself.  A 
few  mouthfuls  of  kdbabs  and  rice,  with  some  sweet  tea 
in  a  samovar,  restored  him  to  full  vigour,  and  he  at 
once  started  to  see  the  commandant  of  the  palace 
guard.  It  was  essential  that  nothing  of  a  contretemps 
should  happen.  Full  military  precautions  against  any 
unexpected  move  of  Al tarnish  must  be  taken  unosten- 
tatiously. Then  he  must  see  Ganesha  Singh,  and  know 
that  David's  men  were  well  cared  for,  and  their  horses 
properly  stabled  and  fed.  Ganesha  Singh  had  better 
go  and  see  his  master  later,  orders  to  the  guard  had 
been  given  to  admit  him.  The  detachment  from  the 
Regiment  of  Victory  had  to  be  properly  sandwiched  in 
among  people  who  would  keep  them  out  of  mischief 
and  stimulate  their  loyalty.  There  were  few  details 


THE  SHERGARHI  157 

that  that  wise  old  head  ever  forgot.  A  considerable 
affection  had  sprung  up  in  his  heart  for  David,  and  as 
Miriam  had  noticed,  he  seemed  unaccountably  to 
acquiesce  in  being  led  by  the  young  soldier — a  very  new 
trait  in  his  character  to  be  led  by  any  one,  even  the 
master  he  served.  But  the  phenomenon  was  but  the 
phenomenon  of  India,  where  white  blood  even  far 
more  dilute  than  that  which  ran  in  David's  veins, 
automatically  demands  obedience. 

By  three  in  the  afternoon  a  considerable  number  of 
the  officials  of  the  province  had  arrived  to  make  the 
customary  salaam  to  the  Governor.  This,  however; 
Yar  Khan  would  not  hear  of  ;  His  Excellency  was  far 
too  tired  to  receive  any  one  save  perhaps  the  head  of 
the  police.  He  himself,  however,  would  hear  any 
reports  necessary,  and  convey  the  greetings  to  His 
Excellency.  To  admit  the  head  of  the  police  would, 
however,  be  good  policy.  Yar  Khan  went  off  to 
prepare  David  and  his  chamber.  The  room  was  to  be 
darkened,  and  David  was  to  have  an  attack  of  fever 
that  kept  him  from  doing  more  than  hear  one  or  two 
urgent  reports. 

The  chief  of  the  police  entered,  made  his  reverence, 
and  then  sat  down.  Thanks  to  Salabat  Khan's  Persian 
reputation,  David's  was  able  to  pass  muster,  and 
the  few  sentences  of  Pushtoo  he  used  were  beyond 
reproach.  It  was  his  mother's  tongue.  The  chief  of 
the  police,  or  kotwal,  was  an  important  functionary, 
concerned  with  many  varied  duties  and  inquisitions. 
He  had  heard,  after  His  Excellency  had  put 
things  right,  of  the  trouble  at  Hari  Parbat.  He 
had  hoped  to  have  found  something  from  the 
Begum  Allah  Visayah,  no  doubt  His  Excellency 
knew  the  name  and  would  forgive  mentioning  her. 
She  had,  however,  left  the  city  the  day  before.  Then 
there  had  been  two  recent  arrivals.  One  a  curious, 


158          A  FEEELANCE   IN  KASHMIR 

secretive  person,  an  Afghan  with  a  small  retinue,  who 
had  come  in  they  said  by  Muzzafarnagar,  and  up  the 
Jhelum  Gorge  route  from  Domel.  There  had  also 
come  an  Angrez.  What  sort  of  an  Angrez  he  had  not 
yet  found  out,  but  he  had  a  riding  pony,  and  a  servant 
who  rode  a  pack  mule.  He  wore  some  sort  of  uniform 
and  had  red  hair,  no  one  had  interfered  with  him, 
but  police  agents  were  watching  him.  He  was 
stopping  at  the  Bibigunj  serai  (travellers'  hostel). 

Yar  Khan,  who  was  present,  did  most  of  the  question- 
ing, and  then  desired  the  chief  of  the  police  to  report 
whence  the  rumour  of  His  Excellency's  death  had 
started,  and  also  to  watch  closely  and  report  all  move- 
ments of  the  Lord  Altamish.  David  then  wearily  gave 
him  leave  to  withdraw,  and  ordered  a  good  report  of 
his  health  to  be  circulated.  Yar  Khan  breathed  again. 
It  had  been  quite  a  normal  interview,  and  quite 
natural.  No  one  could  suspect  anything.  Of  course, 
now  that  Altamish  had  been  scotched,  Yar  Khan  him- 
self could  have  carried  on  government  once  the  public 
believed  that  Salabat  Khan  was  not  killed,  but  they 
were  already  committed  to  His  Excellency's  presence 
at  the  palace.  The  statement  of  the  chief  of  police 
that  he  had  conversed  with  His  Excellency  would  now 
carry  them  well  on  for  say  at  least  forty-eight  hours. 
But  Yar  Khan  had  counted  without  the  eternal 
feminine.  His  life  had  left  him  void  of  that  important 
understanding,  which  is  a  fifth  sense  worth  most  of  the 
others  put  together. 

The  gentle  lady  Nur  Jan,  had  sent  a  message  begging 
that  she  might  come  and  attend  her  tired  lord,  and 
when  told  that  he  must  rest  and  then  do  urgent  business, 
had  contented  herself  with  sending  a  wifely  message 
and  a  tisanne  made  with  her  own  fair  hands.  The  Alana 
Bibi,  however,  was  made  of  more  tiresome  stuff.  The 
Lady  Miriam's  story  of  trouble  and  danger,  and  the 


THE  SHEBGAEHI  159 

night  ride  through  the  frost  and  fog,  and  the  fight  at 
Hari  Par  bat,  with  the  march  through  the  town,  had 
angered  her. 

"  Hoighty  toighty  !  Pretty  fine  games  for  a  chit  of 
a  girl  like  you  to  be  about  in ;  dignified,  too,  for  an 
Afghan  lady  !  I  shall  go  to  my  lord  at  once,  and  make 
him  tell  me  his  affairs  of  state,  and  not  you  !  " 

So  then  and  there  my  lady  had  collected  a  few  of  her 
maids,  called  for  her  chamberlain,  donned  her  veil,  and 
ordered  it  to  be  announced  that  she  was  approaching 
His  Excellency's  apartments,  and  must  speak  with  him 
at  once. 

To  Yar  Khan's  horror,  then,  as  he  came  back  from 
passing  out  the  chief  of  police,  there,  in  the  outer  room 
of  David's  quarters  he  found  her.  A  very  few  words 
convinced  him  that  she  must  be  told.  She  was  out  for 
trouble,  and  would  not  be  denied.  Yar  Khan  luckily 
hit  at  once  on  the  only  antidote.  The  Lady  Miriam 
must  come  forthwith,  sleep  or  no  sleep.  He  conducted 
the  Bibi  into  a  side  chamber  with  suitable  cushions, 
said  that  His  Excellency  would  receive  her  immediately, 
and  sent  an  urgent  summons  to  Miriam  to  join  the 
Bibi  Alana  at  the  Governor's  quarters.  Miriam  at  once 
realized  that  trouble  was  imminent,  and  hurried  into 
her  veil  to  follow  through  the  same  secluded  route  as 
the  Bibi  had  taken, 

David  had  had  his  rest,  and  after  the  police  official 
had  withdrawn,  was  pacing  up  and  down  his  room, 
turning  over  the  situation  in  his  mind.  To  him  thus 
came  Yar  Khan  to  announce  that  he  must  receive  the 
lady,  and  that  she  must  be  taken  into  their  confidence, 

"The  Lady  Miriam  will,  I  hope;  be  here  imme- 
diately, I  have  sent  for  her  urgently." 

"  You  must  stay  with  me,  Wazir  Sahib ;  this  is  more 
than  I  bargained  for," 

"  I  think,  Ferassa  Sahib,  that  it  will  be  better  to 


100          A  FREELANCE   IN  KASHMIR 

begin  with,  that  you  receive  the  ladies  alone.  I  will  be 
at  hand  if  you  call  me.  If  I  am  here  before  the  lady 
is  told  anything  she  will  be  furious  at  such  a  breach 
of  etiquette.  Later  she  will  have  other  matters  to 
think  of." 

So  for  full  five  minutes  they  waited,  and  then  another 
five,  but  no  sign  of  the  Lady  Miriam,  and  the  W asir, 
knowing  the  Bibi's  character,  said — 

"  I  think  that  there  will  be  less  harm  if  you  see  the 
lady  alone,  and  if  you  make  out  that  you  have  fever 
and  cannot  rise.  Ask  her  to  sit  by  you  on  the  cushions, 
and  then  tell  her  the  story.  In  the  meantime  the  Lady 
Miriam  will  be  here  and  come  in  to  corroborate  your 
good  faith." 

So  saying,  Yar  Khan  left  the  perturbed  David,  and 
in  a  couple  of  minutes  the  Bibi  entered.  According  to 
the  etiquette  of  the  lady  and  her  position  she  was  fully 
veiled,  a  handsome,  well-shaped  woman,  graceful  and 
stately  withal.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  only  sons  of 
Salabat  Khan,  and  carried  herself  accordingly. 

Yar  Khan  had  told  her  that  His  Excellency  had  an 
attack  of  fever.  She  entered  David's  room  with  a 
rustle  of  silk  and  an  aroma  of  musk. 

"  I  trust  my  lord  is  well  ?" 

"  Bibi  Sahiba,  I  am  much  fatigued,  and  have 
fever.  I  trust  that  you  and  your  sons  enjoy  perfect 
health." 

"  By  my  lord's  favour  we  do.  I  much  regret  your 
lordship's  indisposition.  I  fear  you  have  much  over- 
taxed your  strength.  The  Lady  Miriam  has  been 
urging  you  to  great  fatigue." 

"  Not  so,  Bibi  Sahiba.  Come  now,  I  have  much  to 
tell  you.  You  will  hear  how  weak  I  am,  and  how 
different  my  voice  is  from  that  you  know." 

"  That  is  so,  my  lord,  and  I  am  much  concerned." 

Alana  was  mollified  at  the  proposal  to  confide  in  her, 


THE  SHEEGAEHI  161 

and  drew  near  to  where  David  lay  in  rugs,  and  seated 
herself  on  cushions  near  his  head. 

"  Now,  listen,  Bibi  Sahiba,  and  be  not  stirred  till  I 
have  finished  my  tale  and  you  have  seen  again  the 
Lady  Miriam  and  heard  Yar  Khan  too.  Know  that 
His  Excellency  Salabat  Khan  has  been  in  great  peril. 
Nay,  do  not  be  frightened — listen,  and  listen  very 
calmly,  I  implore  you.  His  Excellency  was  attacked 
by  Rajpoots  three  days  ago  beyond  Baram-galla,  and 
is  now  lying  wounded  at  the  castle  of  the  Chib  Chief 
Lai  Khan." 

"  My  lord,  I  do  not  understand.  What  do  you 
mean  ?  Are  you  wounded  ?  " 

"  Lady — I  am  not  Salabat  Khan." 

The  Bibi  rose  with  a  scream.  "  Treachery ! 
treachery  !  " 

"  Be  calm,  I  implore  you.  No  harm  is  intended, 
no  treachery." 

At  this  moment  in  came  Yar  Elian  and  Miriam. 

The  Bibi  had  left  her  seat  on  the  cushions  and  rushed 
towards  them. 

"  What  on  earth,"  she  demanded,  "  does  all  this 
mean  ?  " 

But  the  sight  of  Miriam  and  Yar  Khan  to  all  purposes 
unmoved,  at  any  rate  induced  her  to  listen,  while  they 
explained  to  her  the  whole  story.  How  the  Governor; 
being  unfit  to  travel,  had  sent  them  on,  and  how  they 
heard  at  Aliabad  Serai  that  Altamish  was  spreading  a 
rumour  of  Salabat  Khan's  death,  and  was  about  to 
usurp  the  governorship.  Then  how,  as  it  was  impossible 
to  say  when  His  Excellency  would  be  fit  to  travel,  it  had 
been  decided  by  Miriam  and  Yar  Khan  to  avail  them- 
selves of  a  resemblance  of  the  young  captain  to  the 
Governor  in  making  the  people  believe  that  Salabat 
Khan  was  alive  at  the  head  of  his  government.  How 
they  had  then  and  there  acted  on  the  idea,  recovered 

M 


162 

Hari  Parbat,  before  even  Altamish  had  known  that 
his  plans  had  been  successful  there,  and  had  then 
brought  their  ruler  in  triumph  through  the  streets, 
with  his  sister  as  usual  at  his  side.  How  the  populace 
had  been  given  full  proof  that  the  rumour  was  a  lie, 
how  the  Toork  chiefs  had  dispersed  with  their  retinue, 
and  how  at  any  rate  for  a  short  time  all  was  well.  It 
would  be  essential  that  Ferassa  Sahib  should  carry  on 
his  rdle  for  the  present.  It  was,  of  course,  impossible  to 
tell  many.  A  secret  soon  ceased  to  be  a  secret.  Yar 
Khan  and  Miriam  had,  however,  both  recognized  that 
she,  as  the  mother  of  the  Governor's  sons,  must  of 
course  be  told,  and  not  be  put  off  with  tales  of  fever  and 
fatigue,  and  it  was  to  tell  her  all  this  that  they  had 
been  about  to  crave  a  private  audience,  It  would  be 
well  not  to  tell  the  lady  Nur  Jan  as  yet. 

The  Bibi,  mollified,  listened  in  silence.  If  the  lady 
Nur  Jan  was  not  to  know  she  could  pretend  that  she 
alone  had  been  preferred  by  His  Excellency  on  his 
return.  That  would  be  one  to  her.  Besides,  the  whole 
story  appealed  to  her  love  of  intrigue  and  excitement. 
Yes,  and  also  without  doubt  this  young  man  was  very 
personable,  very  personable.  Afghan  married  ladies 
do  not  have  many  chances  of  seeing  strange  men, 
young  or  old. 

"  What,"  she  now  demanded — "  what  is  the  next 
move  ?  " 

"  We  await  some  news  of  His  Excellency.  We 
expect  orders." 

"  Very  well.  I  quite  understand.  You  have  done 
wisely.  I  will  now  converse  with  this  gentleman. 
You  have  my  leave  to  withdraw  to  your  apartments, 
Miriam," 

Miriam  could  not  restrain  a  grin  of  amusement  at 
Yar  Khan,  as  she  withdrew.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
Alema  was  behaving  magnificently.  The  touch  as  to 


THE  SHEKGARHI  163 

telling  her  and  not  Nur  Jan  had  put  her  in  the  best  of 
humours.  Her  apparent  intention  to  enjoy  the  irre- 
gularity of  confidential  intercourse  with  a  strange  man 
had  its  humorous  side,  even  Yar  Khan  saw  this.  He 
even  accentuated  the  situation  by  withdrawing  himself 
for  a  few  minutes  so  as  to  attend  to  any  other  affairs 
that  might  need  him  outside. 

David,  who  was  growing  more  accustomed  to  female 
society,  without  more  ado  asked  Alana  to  resume  her 
seat,  and  had  just  commenced  a  more  detailed  account 
of  the  fight  at  Thana-mandi  and  his  opportune  arrival, 
when  Yar  Khan  returned. 

"  A  messenger  has  arrived  from  His  Excellency." 


CHAPTER  XVI 

fTOORK,    AFGHAN,    AND    FRANK 

ALTAMISH  and  his  followers,  with  Daoucl  Shah  the 
mysterious,  cantered  on  from  the  Shergarhi  till  they 
were  out  of  musket  shot — it  is  as  well  to  do  that  if  you 
must  turn  your  back  on  an  armed  adversary — and 
then  the  Toork  pulled  up.  Slowly  and  bitterly  he 
shook  his  fist  at  the  mud  bastions  of  the  Shergarhi. 
"  God  smite  their  souls  to  the  nethermost  hell ! " 
And  Daoud  Shah  the  Afghan  laughed — a  sarcastic, 
derisive,  insidious  chuckle  that  made  Al tarnish  turn 
sharp  on  him.  It  was  just  such  a  laugh  as  devils  laugh 
when  men  fall. 

"  You  laugh !  You  dare  to  laugh  at  me !  You 
infernal  snivelling  Afghan  of  foul  extraction .  You ' ' 

"  Nay,  stay,  my  Lord,  lest  you  say  what  is  not  easily 
forgotten.  Nay,  but  I  will  take  my  vengeance  on  you 
now.  What  think  you  has  become  of  His  Excellency, 
Salabat  Khan  ?  " 

"  How  the  foul  fiend  should  I  know  ?  He  was  well 
enough  when  he  sent  us  to  the  right  about  just  now  like 
whipped  hounds.  We  Toorks  little  like  to  be  made 
fools  of." 

"  Whether  you  like  it  or  whether  you  don't,  you  have 
been  made  very  handsome  fools  of,  more  so  too  than 
you  think." 

'.'  Explain,  lest  I  have  you " 

164 


TOORK,  AFGHAN,  AND  FEANK    165 

"  Enough  !  enough,  or  I  tell  you  some  more  of  those 
secrets  you  wot  of.  Who,  for  instance,  was  beneath 
the  Diwan-i-Khas  at  Delhi  the  night  the  Moghul 
Emperor's  eyes  were  put  out  ?  " 

"  Nay,  Sirdar  Sahib,  that  were  pure  imagination  on 
your  part.  Nay,  bear  with  me.  Tell  me  what  mean 
you  in  this  mystery  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  mean,  oh  blind  man  !  that  the  Sirdar 
Salabat  Khan  is  not  in  Srinagar,  nor  has  been  these 
nine  days.  That  was  not  His  Excellency  the  Governor 
who  rode  with  you  from  the  Amiran  Kadal." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  in  the  Prophet's  name  ?  " 

"  I  mean  what  I  say,  the  Governor  was  not  there 
to-day,  and  the  story  that  reached  you  of  this  wound 
was  a  true  one." 

"  Who  is  the  man  ?  " 

"  Ah,  that  is  my  secret." 

"  But  the  Lady  Miriam,  his  sister,  was  with  him. 
She  often  rides  with  him.  You  saw  that  all  the  people 
knew  her." 

"  True,  and  thus  helped  to  impose  on  you.  The  fact 
remains." 

"  If  he  holds  a  durbar,  we  will  go  and  denounce  him. 
Am  I  to  disbelieve  my  own  eyes  ?  " 

"  Just  as  you  like,  but  mark  what  I  have  told  you. 
You  have  been  duped,  badly  taken  in,  by  very  clever 
people.  That  old  man  Yar  Khan  is  the  moving  spirit, 
and  evidently  that  sister  of  the  Governor's  is  in  it  too . 
They  have  deliberately  put  up  a  puppet  to  prevent  the 
people  declaring  in  your  favour." 

Altamish  cursed  low  and  fierce,  and  broke  again  into 
a  canter,  and  rode  straight  through  the  city,  looking 
neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left.  The  children  and 
the  chickens  and  the  beggars  fled  from  under  his  horse's 
feet,  and  men  looked  up  and  wondered,  and  the  women 
grounded  their  water  jars  to  look  and  marvel.  Close 


166  A  FEEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

to  the  mosque  of  Shah  Hamadan  the  Abbe  was  visiting 
a  patient  with  cataract,  and  paused  to  see  who  clattered 
by,  surely  there  had  been  enough  that  morning  of 
retinues  in  city  streets !  And  he  saw  the  fierce  hatred 
in  the  face  of  Altamish  and  the  evil  countenance  of 
Daoud  Shah,  and  the  memory  of  the  face  of  Fouqicr 
Tinqueville  struck  him  as  an  evil  dream.  At  the  door 
of  the  Bibigunj  Serai  stood  the  European  whose 
presence  the  chief  of  the  police  had  reported  to  David, 
and  he  too  saw  them  pass,  and  the  evil  face  of  Daoud 
Shah  was  the  one  that  struck  his  fancy.  "  Holy 
Moses !  'Tis  a  Hebrew  Jew !  Tear  and  Ages ! " 
And  crossed  himself  like  the  very  proper  Catholic  he 
was. 

Through  the  city  and  out  to  the  gardens  of  the 
suburbs  rode  Altamish,  never  drawing  rein  till  he  came 
to  his  own  house  and  garden  on  the  shores  of  the  Dhall 
Lake.  Since  the  party  of  the  day  before,  a  wind  had 
blown  and  scattered  the  leaves  of  last  year,  and  the 
dead  branches  of  the  trees  over  the  garden  paths. 
Altamish  was  moved  to  wrath,  and  he  called  for  his 
garden  sweeper.  Instead,  however,  a  woman  drew 
forth,  and  salaamed. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  he  shouted. 

"  Sire,  I  am  the  sweeper's  wife." 

"  Why  the  devil  are  not  the  garden  paths  swept  ?  " 

"  Sire,  my  husband  lies  in  his  hut  with  bad  fever  and 
ague.  I  am  doing  his  work,  but,  as  your  honour  sees, 
I  am  many  months  gone  with  child,  and  I  work  but 
slowly." 

Whereon  Altamish  commanded  that  they  throw  her 
down  and  beat  her  with  rods,  which  was  done  forthwith, 
so  that  she  died  that  night.  But  there  is  no  limit  to 
the  fury  of  a  Toork. 

After  which  the  mad  rage  of  Altamish  cooled  for  the 
time,  and  he  and  Daoud  Shah  took  counsel  one  with 


TOORK,  AFGHAN,  AND  FRANK    167 

another,  and  Wali  Dad,  the  plotter  who  failed,  had  an 
exceeding  bad  quarter  of  an  hour.  Nature,  however, 
had  provided  him  with  the  long  spoon  that  he  who  sups 
with  the  devil  needs  must  have.  Wali  Dad  was  able 
to  exonerate  himself  from  the  failure  of  the  night 
before,  and  to  show  that  not  only  had  the  Begum  Allah 
Visayah  carried  out  her  compact,  but  that  at  dawn 
that  morning  the  fort  of  Hari  Parbat  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  Toork  party,  and  would  have  remained  so  had 
not  the  Governor  Salabat  Khan  with  Yar  Khan,  the 
old  fox,  appeared  there  shortly  after,  gained  admittance, 
and  hanged  the  commandant  over  his  own  gateway. 

Altamish  now  heard  the  full  tale  of  what  had 
happened  at  the  fort,  and  even  began  to  realize  how 
extremely  fortunate  he  was  to  be  free  himself  and  back 
on  his  own  domain.  Food  and  rest  were  at  any  rate 
the  first  need,  and  Altamish  and  Daoud  Shah  soon  sat 
down  to  a  repast.  That  over,  the  Toork  sat  himself 
down  to  smoke  and  drowse,  while  the  latter,  like  the 
restless  soul  he  was,  preferred  to  pace  up  and  down  in 
the  garden  by  the  edge  of  the  lake. 

While  his  ally  slept,  Daoud  Shah,  the  wandering 
Afghan  of  evil  memories  and  weird  associations,  paced 
by  himself,  his  eager  brain  plotting  as  had  ever  been 
the  case,  some  evil  to  thwart  such  good  as  men  would 
find  room  for  in  their  daily  undertakings.  The  man's 
memory  dwelt  lovingly  on  all  the  evil  he  had  seen  in 
the  past,  of  which  now  and  again  he  had  let  the  world 
see  a  glimpse.  It  was  a  foul  cruel  memory,  and  it 
stretched  back  far  into  the  evil  time  afore.  But  the 
immediate  business  to  plan  was  how  to  help  Altamish 
plunge  that  fair  valley  into  war  and  misery,  and 
incidentally  rain  that  young  saliib  who  had  made  the 
Afghan  seem  a  fool  that  morning  in  the  Begum  Somru's 
campo.  The  line  to  take  seemed  clear  enough.  First 
the  number  of  the  Toorks'  supporters  in  the  valley  must 


168          A  FREELANCE   IN   KASHMIR 

be  increased  in  every  way  possible,  then  some  attack 
by  folk  beyond  the  borders  would  leave  some  oppor- 
tunity for  a  Toork  rising  to  be  successful.  The  wild 
folk  on  the  borders  of  Kashmir  were  considerable. 
In  the  north  were  the  Chinese  and  Tibetans,  on  the 
east  the  tribes  of  Baltistan  and  the  districts  bordering 
on  Gilgit.  But  in  the  west  there  were  the  actual 
tribal  unsubdued  districts  of  the  Indus  uplands,  where 
the  wildest  of  Afghans  and  similar  peoples  lay  always 
eager  for  war  and  rapine.  If  only  they  could  be  stirred 
up,  there  would  be  ample  opportunity  or  trouble — 
the  tribes  from  the  Black  Mountain,  from  the  Hazarajat, 
and  the  Khagan  Valley  from  Tangir  and  Darel  and 
Chilas.  And  a  grim  smile  came  over  the  face  of  the 
schemer  at  the  mere  thought  of  all  the  evil  it  might  be 
possible  to  engender  and  all  the  rue  that  lay  a-waiting 
for  Salabat  Khan,  Governor,  and  Ferassa  Sahib,  his 
friend.  "  By  the  hundred  names  of  God,"  swore 
Daoud  Shah,  into  whose  calculations  the  deity  came 
seldom  enough — "  by  the  hundred  names  of  God,  we 
shall  make  it  hot  for  them."  And  the  cold  wind  from 
the  mountain-tops  whistled  shrill  through  the  poplars, 
and  memories  of  the  evil  he  had  had  a  hand  in  came 
back  as  pure  joy  to  that  heart,  the  busy  eternal  mocker 
of  good  in  the  world.  How  red  had  run  Jerusalem 
before  the  Eagles  entered,  how  red  had  run  the  streets 
of  Paris  a  few  years  ago.  How  had  the  Toorks  of  the 
Golden  Horde  sacked  the  city  of  Constantine  !  and 
Nadir  Shah  the  Persian  ripped  the  life  and  wealth 
from  Delhi !  All  good  memories  for  the  evil  mind  and 
soul  of  Daoud  Shah  of  the  Ben-i-Israel  whom  some  men 
said  was  the  foul  Mahound  himself. 

Then,  when  the  Afghan  had  walked  and  planned  and 
plotted  for  full  two  hours,  Altamish  was  awake,  and 
Daoud  Shah  went  in  to  him  to  tell  his  plans,  or  as  much 
of  them  as  might  be  profitable.  And  within,  Altamish 


TOOEK,  AFGHAN,  AND  FEANK    169 

lay  on  cushions,  and  beside  him  twanging  gently  a 
guitar  sat  the  dancer  Azizun,  who  laughed  when  the 
Afghan  entered,  so  that  he  demanded  gruffly  enough 
why  she  laughed.  Whereat  that  lady  remarked  pertly 
that  she  laughed  because  she  saw  that  he  had  come  to 
talk  affairs  of  state,  and  because  she  also  knew  that 
the  Lord  Altamish  had  not  the  least  intention  of  doing 
anything  else  but  listen  to  her  for  at  least  another 
hour,  and  perhaps  two.  She  had  just  prepared  the 
very  sweetest  rose-water  huqa  that  man  could  dream 
of  for  him,  and  further,  if  Daoud  Shah  was  not  too 
grumpy,  why  she  would  prepare  one  for  him  also. 
Then,  since  Paris  speaks  not  with  Menelaus  when  Helen 
sits  at  his  feet,  Daoud  Shah  was  fain  also  to  accept  the 
huqa,  and  was  fitted  out  with  a  separate  alcove  and 
set  of  cushions  and  one  of  Azizun's  girls  to  amuse  him. 
Now,  beauty  and  grace  in  due  season  were  agreeable 
enough  to  Daoud  Shah,  and  since  it  was  obviously  no 
time  to  get  Altamish  to  talk  sense,  he  was  content  to 
dally  with  Delilah  in  the  next  alcove,  and  to  smoke 
and  drowse  while  the  lady  played  soft  music.  To  do 
him  justice,  it  was  a  part  which  he  could  play  well 
enough  if  need  be,  and  it  was  late  in  the  afternoon 
before  it  was  in  the  least  necessary  to  insist  on  talking 
business  with  Altamish.  After  a  while  Azizun  came 
in  quietly  to  the  alcove  where  Lalun  was  singing  softly 
to  the  Afghan,  who  pulled  at  his  Tiuqa  peaceably,  and 
said — 

"  Lalun,  the  Lord  Altamish  would  speak  with  thee 
anent  the  new  zithers  you  want.  I  will  entertain  this 
Sirdar"  And  Lalun  slipped  away. 

"  I  fear,  my  Lord,  my  girl  has  bored  you.  You  are 
not  used  to  our  simple  Kashmir  dancers." 

Daoud  Shah  was  not  in  the  mood  to  trifle,  and  re- 
moved not  the  nargille  from  his  lips. 

"  Perhaps  Azizun  herself  should  have  come  to  him." 


170 

The  cleft  in  the  Afghan  forehead  deepened.  "  See 
here,  Azizun.  I  am  well  pleased  with  you  and  your 
far-famed  girls  and  their  dancing.  I  heard  tell  of  it 
from  Balkh  to  Kandahar,  and  now  I  want  your  help. 
Who  is  the  lady  that  rides  with  His  Excellency  whom 
I  saw  in  the  city  ?  " 

"  That,  my  Lord,  is  the  Governor's  sister,  the  Lady 
Miriam." 

"  Ha  !  so  I  have  heard.  Well,  I  propose  to  marry 
that  lady,  and  it  will  be  for  you  to  assist  me." 

"  I  know  not  that  I  care  to  do  anything  of  the  sort." 

"  Perhaps  you  do  not  know  that  what  Daoud  Shah 
wills  in  this  world  is  generally  done.  I  shall  make  it 
worth  your  while  to  help  me." 

"  Perhaps  you  do  not  know  that  I  do  as  I  please  in 
things  save  what  the  Lord  Altamish  wishes,  and  no 
man  bids  me  do  his  bidding." 

"  Ah  !  I  must  talk  to  you  of  the  past.  I  am  best  when 
kept  in  with.  What  was  that  story  of  Ghuzni  and  the 
Kuzilbash's  garden  ?  Something  about  his  son  and  a 
fig-tree,  if  I  remember  right." 

Azizun  was  perturbed,     "  Well,  what  of  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  nothing.  I  mention  it  to  show  you  that  I  am 
no  new  traveller  in  this  tortuous  path.  I  am  worth 
pleasing  and  serving,  and  this  Altamish  will  tell 
you  so." 

Azizun  bit  her  lip,  and  thought  better  of  it.  It  is  ill 
to  quarrel  with  a  man  till  you  can  gauge  his  calibre. 

"  Such  help  as  I  can  give  my  Lord  I  will  give." 

"  Ah,  that  is  better ;  but  enough,  see,  here  comes 
Lalun  again." 

Azizun  returned  to  her  lord,  and  the  afternoon  passed 
away.  The  sun  had  set  behind  the  Pir  Panjal  before 
she  and  Lalun  quietly  withdrew  and  left  the  two 
worthies  to  their  plotting,  with  their  scented  breath 
but  a  memory.  Altamish  was  ready  and  keen  enough 


TOORK,  AFGHAN,  AND  FRANK    171 

to  talk  business,  and  Daoud  Shah  entered  on  his 
plan  for  raising  real  trouble  in  the  Happy  Valley. 
Ho  also  announced  that  among  his  share  of  success 
would  be  Miriam  to  wife.  "  Take  her,  and  welcome," 
said  the  other.  "  And  I  wish  you  joy  o'  her.  You'll 
find  her  need  some  taming."  And  then  continued 
their  planning. 

Daoud  Shah,  it  was  proposed,  would  himself  go  over 
into  Tangir  and  Darel,  and  from  thence  into  the 
Khagan;  and  perhaps  to  the  Black  Mountain.  The 
Sayads  of  Khagan  would  probably  be  stirred  up  against 
the  Afghan  proper.  Altamish  must  send  agents  too,  up 
the  Gilgit  road  to  tell  of  the  plans  to  raise  more  revenue 
for  next  year.  There  might  be  some  hint  too  of  a 
coming  levy  of  girls  to  be  sent  to  the  Emperor  at 
Kabul,  that  would  always  stir  hatred,  not  so  much  for 
the  sake  of  the  girls  as  that  a  levy  meant  that  the  fair 
price  would  not  be  paid.  Daoud  Shah  felt  sure  that  a 
well  worked  incursion  of  the  tribes  into  Kanzilwan  and 
the  Gurais  valley,  or  into  the  Lolab,  would  bring  the 
Governor  with  the  flower  of  his  troops  to  expel  the 
intruders.  If  they  were  strong  and  well  handled,  the 
troops  might  be  separated  and  cut  off,  and  thus  give 
plenty  of  occupation  to  the  troops  while  Altamish  and 
his  friends  engineered  a  rising  in  the  valley.  It  really 
sounded  quite  promising,  and  while  the  two  plotters 
continued  their  dreams  their  agents  were  already  at 
work  throughout  the  valley. 

After  a  few  minutes'  further  discussion  of  their 
projects,  Daoud  Shah  announced  his  intention  of  going 
to  the  city  to  arrange  to  despatch  some  agents  ahead 
of  him  to  the  tribal  country,  and  leaving  Altamish  to 
his  liuqa  and  cushions,  started  forth  a-horseback  towards 
Srinagar. 

As  he  reached  one  of  the  poplar  avenues  outside  the 
town  he  became  aware  of  a  tall  white  figure  striding 


172          A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

along  in  front  of  him.  From  the  small  white  cap  on 
the  head  he  saw  that  it  must  be  that  Christian  priest  of 
whose  presence  in  the  valley  he  was  aware.  Spurring  his 
horse,  he  was  soon  able  to  overtake  the  stranger,  pulling 
up  the  animal  to  a  walk,  and  uttering  the  Muham- 
madan  greeting,  "  Peace  be  with  all,"  to  which  the 
Abbe,  as  he  turned  to  see  who  had  accosted  him,  replied 
simply  enough,  "  And  with  you  too,"  and  then  gazed 
intently  into  the  Afghan's  face.  A  curious  sight  he 
must  have  found  it,  the  furrowed,  sinister  hawk-nosed 
face  with  the  deep  furrows  and  a  thousand  lesser  ones 
radiating  therefrom.  The  Afghan  found  the  gaze  a 
little  disconcerting.  He  was  accustomed  to  scan 
searchingly  the  features  of  others,  not  to  have  his  own 
taken  stock  of  so  seriously. 

"  You,  sir,  will  perhaps  know  me  again,"  said  he  at 
last. 

"  Your  pardon,"  said  the  Abbe,  rousing  himself  from 
a  reverie.  "  Your  pardon  a  thousand  times.  Your 
face  struck  a  chord  in  my  memory,  and  I  forgot  my 
manners." 

;'  You  have,  I  believe,  been  long  in  Kashmir  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  am  certainly  not  recently  arrived." 

"  You  are  not,  I  understand,  in  the  Company's 
service  ?  " 

"  I  am  in  the  service  of  My  Master,  the  Son  of  the 
God  of  the  Christians." 

"  Ah  !  the  God  of  the  Nazarenes." 

"  Yes,  if  you  will  it  so.  The  Great  God  of  the 
Nazarenes,  whom  all  the  world  acknowledges,  whether 
they  know  it  or  no." 

"  I  do  not  acknowledge  him." 

"  No."  People  who  knew  the  Abbe  would  recognize 
that  he  was  slightly  ruffled.  It  did  not  please  him  to 
have  his  Church  and  the  Christian  religion  spoken  of  as 
the  "  Nazarenes." 


TOOEK,  AFGHAN,  AND  FEANK    173 

But  Daoud  Shah  had  been  looking  at  the  priest 
steadily  in  his  turn,  and  suddenly  said — 

"  Now  I  remember  where  we  met." 

"  I  did  not  know  I  had  had  the  pleasure." 

"  Oh  yes,  we  did  ;  but  never  mind.  Tell  me  of  the 
Nazarene  whom  you  worship." 

"  My  friend,  what  need  is  there  for  me  to  waste  such 
news  on  the  follower  of  the  son  of  a  Christian  slave  girl; 
born  six  hundred  years  and  more  later  than  Him 
whom  ye  call  the  Nazarene  ?  " 

"  Ah,  Padre  Sahib,  you  need  not  think  that  I  worry 
about  him  whom  his  followers  call  the  Prophet.  I 
come  of  an  older  religion  than  that.  Not  that  I 
despise  the  Prophet  or  Him  whom  you  follow,  for  the 
matter  of  that.  Oh  yes  ;  I  remember  once  He  stood 
by  where  some  men  were  looking  at  a  dead  pariah,  that 
lay  with  its  glassy  eyes  covered  in  dust,  and  the  skin 
shrivelled  back  from  its  teeth.  '  Look  at  its  ragged 
paws ! '  said  one.  '  Faugh !  what  a  brute,'  said 
another.  '  See  ! '  cried  a  third,  '  its  draggled  tail.' 
'  See  its  mangy  skin,'  said  a  fourth.  And  then  your 
Nazarene  said, '  Yes,  and  see  its  teeth  like  pearls.'  He 
was,  I  think,  the  carpenter's  son." 

The  Abbe  looked  and  stared.  is  What  are  you  say- 
ing ?  You  say  you  saw  the  Son  of  Man  ?  " 

"  Well,  did  I  ?  Perhaps  I  am  mistaken.  You  think 
I  know  nothing  of  the  Christian  religion  and  their 
Bible.  I  know  many  things.  I  know,  for  instance, 
that  you  are  French." 

"  How  do  you  know  I  am  French  ?  I  care  not  if  you 
do  know  that.  It  can  be  little  enough  that  a  Muham- 
medan  like  you  knows  of  the  Christian  Bible." 

"  Padre"  said  the  Afghan,  "  I  have  seen  and  know 
many  things.  Look,  do  you  remember  this  ?  "  And 
here  he  made  a  sign. 

The  Abbe  crossed  himself.    "  What  do  you  know 


174          A  FBEELANCE   IN  KASHMIR 

of  the  Hundredth  Name  of  God  or  of  a  prince  and  ruler 
in  Israel  ?  " 

"  I  told  you,  Padre  Sahib,  that  I  know  many  things. 
I  that  saw  the  Eagles  march  over  the  walls  of  Jerusalem. 
You  ask  how  I  know  that  you  are  French,  and  what  I 
know  of  your  Bible.    Listen  to  it  in  French — 
II  est  ecrit 

Avant  que  la  corde  d'argent  se  rompe 

Que  la  lampe  d'or  se  brise 

Que  la  cruche  casse  sur  la  Jontaine 

Et  que  la  roue  casse  au  puits 

Avant  que  la  poussiere  retourne  a  la  terre 

D'ou  elle  a  ete  tire.  ... 

And  as  he  listened  the  Abbe  remembered  a  secret 
scene  in  his  youth  in  which  he  had  had  share,  and 
apart  from  that,  the  pleasure  that  that  last  and  most 
beautiful  chapter  of  Ecclesiastes  had  always  brought 
him,  ' '  Jeune  homme,  rejouis  toi  dans  ta  jeunesse. ...  Ah  I 
a  long,  long,  weary  while  ago,  How  did  this  Afghan 
come  to  know  it  hi  French  of  all  tongues  or  any  other 
of  the  glimpses  of  old  forgotten  things,  or  the 
Hundredth  Name  of  God?  And  as  ho  marvelled  he 
noticed  that  the  rider  and  horse  were  farther  away  and 
the  voice  came  in  a  mocking  tone. 

"  How  do  I  know  that  you  are  French  ?  Because  I 
saw  you  in  Paris  in  a  tumbril  with  Marie  Marquise  de 
Bourbel  St.  Stephanie," 

"  Ciel ! "  quoth  the  Abbe,  and  there  came  to  him 
the  memory  of  one  in  the  crowd  who  mocked  at  the 
crucifix  he  had  held  before  the  Marquise's  brave  eyes 
as  she  went  to  the  guillotine.  Then  there  came  to  him 
also  a  memory  of  that  dark  story  of  the  Middle  Ages, 
of  Ahasuerus  who  had  similarly  mocked  the  Christ  as 
he  carried  the  Cross,  and  been  bidden  to  wander  the 
world  through  till  the  Second  Coming,  taking  part  in 
all  the  evil  of  the  universe.  With  the  old  story  was 


TOOBK,  AFGHAN,  AND  FBANK    175 

that  evil  rumour  of  the  blood  ritual  with  which  the 
Jews  were  said  to  purge  their  sin  in  the  blood  of 
Christian  children,  Le  Juif  Errant !  It  would  account 
for  the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the  apochryphal 
story  of  the  pariah.  Nay,  it  would  account  for  that 
secret  knowledge  of  the  building  of  the  second  temple. 
An  Afghan  of  the  Ben-i-Israel,  it  was  like  enough  too. 
The  Wandering  Jew  waiting  for  the  second  coming  had, 
he  knew,  been  last  heard  of  at  Hamburg,  in  1794, 
Erwige  Jude !  A  strange  story,  and  Jean  Armande  du 
Plessis,  greatly  mystified,  strode  on  down  the  poplar 
avenue  to  the  mosque  Shah  Hamadan;  near  which  his 
quiet  abode  lay,  hard  by  that  putative  tomb  of  Christ 
which  men  show  to  this  day  in  Kashmir.  Outside 
it  lay  an  old  burial  ground  of  Islam,  "  oti  la  youssi&re 
retourne  a  la  tcrre." 


CHAPTEE  XVII 

THE    RETURN    OP    SALABAT    KHAN 

THE  message  that  had  arrived  from  Salabat  Khan 
promised  to  clear  up  the  situation.  It  was  to  the  effect 
that  he  had  received  Yar  Khan's  letter  regarding  the 
reported  plot  of  Altamish,  and  that  as  his  wound  was 
not  so  bad  as  he  had  expected,  he  would  be  at  Aliabad 
Serai  in  a  litter  the  following  evening  with  an  escort 
of  Chib  retainers  belonging  to  his  relative.  He  would 
expect  Yar  Khan  to  send  a  party  to  meet  him,  if 
possible  under  the  young  captain  whom  he  had  engaged. 

Yar  Khan  at  once  returned  to  David's  apartments 
and  relieved  that  young  man  of  the  Bibi  Alana's 
searching  questions.  It  would  be  necessary  to  rest 
the  horses  and  men  that  night,  and  start  the  next 
morning  when  the  sun  was  up.  A  fresh  litter  could  be 
provided  from  Shapiyon,  and,  if  necessary,  His 
Excellency  could  then  be  brought  straight  in.  The 
Bibi  Alana  professed  herself  satisfied,  and  after  a 
suitable  exchange  of  courtesies  withdrew  to  her  own 
apartments.  When  she  was  gone  Yar  Khan  heaved  a 
sigh  of  relief,  for  the  presence  of  a  petticoat  was  ever 
an  anxiety.  But  the  evening  was  drawing  in,  and  even 
his  iron  frame  craved  for  a  rest.  So  since  all  was 
apparently  quiet  within  the  province,  and  the  palace 
guards  fresh  and  alert  the  weary  folk  from  the  other 
side  of  the  passes  slept. 

It  was  not  therefore  till  the  next  morning  that  Yar 

176 


THE  BETUEN  OF  SALABAT  KHAN   177 

Khan  would  hear  of  making  plans  to  give  effect  to 
His  Excellency's  message.  But  the  next  morning 
betimes,  both  David  and  the  Wazir  were  astir. 

The  arrangements  that  seemed  to  be  necessary  were 
simple  enough.  David  would  have  to  ride  out  from  the 
Shergarhi  as  Salabat  Khan,  and  the  following  morning 
the  real  Salabat  Khan  would  come  in  accompanied  by 
the  real  David  clothed  in  his  own  dress,  who  had  been, 
it  was  said,  back  to  Chib-land  from  Aliabad  Serai  at  the 
time  the  news  had  come  of  the  plans  and  machinations 
of  Altamish.  It  was  only  to  be  expected  that  he  would 
return  with  the  Governor,  and  the  men  of  his  own  troop 
who  had  escorted  him  so  steadfastly  through  the  city 
were  still  believing  their  captain  actually  to  be  away 
with  Salabat  Khan.  It  only  remained  therefore  to 
make  it  so.  To  this  end  Yar  Khan  proposed  that 
David  should  ride  forth  as  His  Excellency  at  about 
noon  that  afternoon,  and  make  straight  for  Aliabad 
Serai.  Yar  Khan  would,  of  course,  accompany  him. 
It  was  necessary  that  he  should  explain  to  Salabat 
Khan  what  the  situation  was,  and  how  David  had 
saved  the  province. 

The  next  move  was  to  consider  what  strength  of 
escort  should  go  with  them.  David  voted  against  his 
own  men  going ;  there  was  no  use  in  running  more 
risk  of  detection  than  was  necessary.  No,  the  re- 
mainder of  Habib  Khan's  bodyguard  had  better  go, 
there  would  be  forty  sabres,  and  that  should  be  enough. 
"  We  had  better  let  the  Lady  Miriam  know,"  said 
David,  who  seemed  to  feel  that  something  was  wanting 
in  the  atmosphere. 

"  We  had  better  let  the  Bibi  Alana  know  too,  then, 
she  must  now  be  told  exactly  how  we  are  going  to  act," 
said  Yar  Khan.  "  It  will  be  as  well  really  to  summon 
them  to  His  Excellency's  presence.  The  Lady  Miriam 
will  understand,  and  Alana  too,  and  not  be  offended." 

N 


178  A  FBEELANCE  IN   KASHMIK 

Accordingly  a  discreet  message  was  sent  to  both 
ladies  with  the  necessary  summons,  Miriam  for  ten  and 
the  Bibi  Alana  for  half-past.  Yar  Khan  had  thought 
it  would  be  well  to  explain  to  Miriam  alone  exactly 
what  they  proposed  to  tell  Salabat  Khan.  David  felt 
comment  was  needless  and  was  glad  enough  to  acquiesce. 
It  was  further  arranged  that  the  party  should  start  at 
eleven.  At  ten  Lady  Miriam  arrived,  and  as  Yar  Khan 
was  not  yet  come,  deeming  it  hardly  courteous  to  let 
her  wait,  he  ordered  her  admittance.  But  when  she  was 
ushered  in,  then  David's  heart  rather  failed  him.  It 
was  one  thing  to  invite  her  to  a  conference,  another 
to  appear  to  have  summoned  her  to  his  apartments 
alone. 

Miriam  saw  that  there  was  some  embarrassment 
and  was  inwardly  amused  and  pleased  thereat. 

"My Lord, your  humble  servant  awaits  your  pleasure." 

In  the  ante-room  the  heavy  burka  used  to  cloak  her 
passage  through  the  outside  courts  had  been  thrown 
aside,  and  she  only  wore  the  veil  with  the  accommo- 
dating fold  therein.  It  was  really  quite  amusing  -to 
see  a  man  in  some  confusion,  they  were  usually  assured 
enough. 

David  steadied  himself.  "  Lady  !  the  Wazir  and 
I  have  ventured  to  send  for  you  because  we  knew 
that  we  could  thus  get  speech  with  you  without  the 
palace  wondering." 

"  My  Lord  seems  unwell  ?  " 

"  I,  Lady  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you.  You  stammer  and  are  faltering.  I 
hope  it  is  not  ague." 

"  Not  the  least,  Lady,  I  was  never  better.  It  is  your 
kind  heart  that  imagines  trouble." 

"  I  am  reassured,  my  Lord,  perhaps  the  presence 
of  ladies  incommodes  you.  Pray  proceed.  I  was 
indiscreet  in  interrupting  you." 


THE  BETURN  OF   SALABAT   KHAN     179 

Miriam  was  evidently  not  lacking  in  the  instinct  to 
torture  an  admirer,  and  David  did  not  recover  his 
evenness  as  the  result  of  her  kind  inquiries.  Badinage 
was  not  his  forte. 

"  Lady,  we  have  news  that  His  Excellency  will  be 
at  Aliabad  /Serai  this  evening,  and  wo  are  going  up  with 
forty  lances  to  meet  him  and  bring  him  in.  He  has 
an  escort  of  Chibs  with  him  at  present.  I  ride  out 
with  the  Wazir  in  the  capacity  of  Governor,  and  I 
shall  return  as  myself." 

"  Truly  it  is  well  and  simply  conceived.  Glad  am  I 
to  hear  of  my  brother's  return.  I  trust  he  will  be 
none  the  worse  for  his  rash  journey,  with  that  open 
wound.  .  .  .  We  have  not  done  very  badly  in  his 
absence."  And  here  the  veil  showed  a  tendency  to 
open. 

There  was  something  charming  and  stimulating 
about  that  "  we."  David  recognized  it  and  felt  duly 
elated. 

"  Lady,  I  am  well  content,  aye,  and  more  than 
proud  to  have  escorted  you  and  have  been  of  service 
to  your  house." 

Miriam  bowed  gravely,  and  David  found  himself 
wondering  how  he  could  see  her  face  again. 

At  this  juncture,  however,  in  strode  Yar  Khan, 
prompt  and  curt,  and  greeting  the  lady  demanded  if 
she  understood  the  situation.  On  hearing  that  sho 
did,  he  exclaimed,  "  Good  !  Good  !  Our  difficulties 
will  soon  be  over,  and  you  must  help  us  make  it  clear 
to  your  brother  why  we  have  acted  as  we  have." 

The  next  moment  the  Bibi  Alana  was  announced  and 
ushered  in,  and  this  time  Yar  Khan  took  the  bull  by 
the  horns  without  delay. 

"  We  have  ventured  to  summon  you  here,  Madame, 
in  this  unceremonious  fashion,  as  it  was  the  only  way 
you  could  hear  our  news  and  plans  promptly.  We 


180 

have  also  ventured  to  summon  the  Lady  Miriam,  and 
now  you  can  both  hear.  His  Excellency,  as  we  in- 
formed you  last  night,  has  written  that  he  has  made 
effort  to  travel,  and  will  be  at  Aliabad  Serai  this 
afternoon  with  a  Chib  escort.  I  leave  shortly  with 
this  gentleman  to  meet  him.  The  Sahib  will  ride 
out  as  Governor  and  return  as  his  captain  of  horse.  He 
would  like  you  to  say  that  ho  has  done  his  duty  as  his 
Excellency's  double  with  courage  and  decorum." 

And  the  Bibi  Alana  bowed  her  head  and  said, 
"  Wazir  Sahib,  and  young  English  sir,  whose  name  I 
do  not  yet  know,  the  Lady  Miriam  and  I  certify  that 
you  have  done  your  duty  well  and  honourably,  and 
have  rendered  His  Excellency  and  his  family  great 
service." 

Hereon,  David,  who  felt  himself  much  more  com- 
petent to  face  two  women  rather  than  one  discon- 
certing one,  remembered  how  the  Begum  Somru  had 
expressed  curiosity  at  the  English  manner  of  salute,  and 
said — 

"  Ladies,  I  am  your  very  humble  servant,  and  trust 
I  may  long  remain  in  your  service,  and  that  of  His 
Excellency.  Permit  me  to  salute  you  after  the  manner 
of  the  English."  Whereon  he  raised  first  Alana's  fair 
plump  hand  and  kissed  it,  and  then  the  beautiful 
tapering  fingers  of  Miriam,  whereat  she  drew  her  veil 
the  closer,  and  the  ladies  withdrew.  It  has  been  said 
that  David  was  a  comely  and  attractive  young  man. 

Yar  Khan  had  stood  and  watched,  and  his  wrinkled 
eyelids  blinked,  but  he  said  nothing. 

Then  when  the  ladies  had  gone,  he  put  his  hand  on 
David's  shoulder  in  kindly  fashion  and  said — 

"  Boy,  the  horses  and  the  troopers  are  ready." 

So  David  clattered  out  of  the  palace  gates,  after 
having  been  for  six  and  thirty  hours  Governor  of  the 
Province  of  Kashmir  in  the  Empire  of  the  Durannis. 


THE  RETURN  OP  SALABAT   KHAN      181 

It  was  a  bright,  clear  day,  and  the  road  across  the 
plateaus  or  karewas  was  more  than  beautiful,  and  the 
great  range  of  the  Pir  Panjal  stood  like  a  whitewashed 
wall  in  the  midday  sun  a  stone's  throw  away.  But  it 
took  five  hours'  steady  riding  and  climbing  for  that 
stone  to  touch  land,  and  it  was  not  till  the  late  after- 
noon, when  all  the  Eastern  slopes  were  deep  in  shadow 
and  the  paths  frozen  again,  that  they  reached  Aliabad 
Serai.  There  they  found  that  Salabat  Khan  had 
arrived  in  a  litter  with  thirty  non-de-script  troopers 
from  his  relatives'  estate,  and  had  been  resting  in  the 
quarter  for  the  last  hour. 

Yar  Khan  lost  no  time  in  going  in  and  describing 
to  the  Governor  the  situation  in  sufficient  length  and 
in  such  guise  as  would  reassure  him.  Salabat  Khan 
was  startled  to  find  how  nearly  his  government  had 
been  supplanted,  though  he  was  well  aware  of  the 
deep-rooted  hostility  of  the  Toork  faction. 

"  That  thrice  misbegotten  Altamish  was  at  the  bottom 
of  it  ?  I  don't  doubt  it,  I  don't  doubt  it.  He  was 
ever  faithless  and  intriguing.  You  and  I  know  how 
he  served  the  Emperor  of  the  Moguls,  that  blind 
wretch.  We  also,  I  fancy,  know  who  blinded  him. 
Wali  Dad  that  secretary  of  his,  I  know  too.  A  slimy 
son  of  a  dog  if  ever  there  was  one.  And  they  tried  to 
kill  my  Goorkhas  ?  You  hanged  the  rebel  Kommadan 
of  the  Regiment  of  Victory.  Who  ordered  it  ?  The 
young  Frank  did.  Upon  my  soul  that  was  well 
done.  God  smite  their  souls  to  the  nethermost  hell ! 
Was  Feroz  Tuglag  in  it  ?  " 

"  So  I  am  told." 

"  And  Ali  Khan  Toork  ?"     The  Wazir  nodded. 

"  And  Sabuktagin  Gori  and  his  brothers?" 

"  They  were  all  in  it,  also,  likewise  Murad  Beg." 

"  Oh,  the  Moguls,  too,  eh  ?    Well,  I  might  have 
guessed   that.    The   Moguls   have   always   hated   us 


182  A  FREELANCE   IN   KASHMIE 

Pathans,  curse  them !  Perhaps  they've  had  good 
reason,  but  they  ousted  us  from  the  Delhi  thrones  first. 
You  say  that,  except  at  the  Hari  Parbat,  you  had  no 
bloodshed.  How  was  that  ?  " 

"  We  found  the  whole  of  the  Toork  party  drawn  up 
at  the  Amiran  Kadal  Bridge  as  we  rode  down  from  the 
Hari  Parbat.  The  young  Frank  made  a  bold  advance, 
and  the  sirdars  wero  afraid,  and  thought  you  had 
returned.  Altamish  rode  up,  and  said  he  had  come 
to  welcome  you,  having  heard  that  you  had  been  hurt 
in  Poonch.  We  judged  best  not  to  attack  them  as  they 
did  not  begin.  They  have  a  strong  party  at  Kabul, 
and  we  had  little -open  evidence  of  their  complicity. 
You  should  have  seen  Altamish's  face  when  he  thought 
it  was  you  who  rode  up  to  him." 

"  I  see,  I  see.  It  was  well  done — well  done  by  all  of 
you,  and  this  young  captain  of  horse  seems  the  very 
man  I  have  long  looked  for.  With  him  and  you  by 
my  side,  old  friend,  we  ought  to  bo  a  match  for  them. 
Call  him  in." 

David  had  changed  his  head-dress  during  the  ride, 
and  without  that  his  likeness  was  not  so  striking.  He 
rode  into  Aliabad  Serai,  therefore,  without  attracting 
attention  from  the  Governor's  new  escort.  Yar  Khan 
had  halted  the  troopers  who  had  accompanied  them, 
outside  the  serai,  and  this  had  given  David  time  to 
change  into  his  ordinary  dress  as  a  captain  of  horse. 
It  had  all  passed  off  simply  enough. 

Salabat  Khan  received  him  with  great  heartiness. 

"  I  have  just  heard  from  my  Wazir,  Ferassa  Sahib, 
of  the  plots  of  these  sons  of  burnt  fathers,  and  of  your 
conduct.  Apart  from  the  services  you  have  rendered 
me,  you  have  shown  great  wisdom,  and  I  am  glad  to 
have  you  in  my  service,  to  help  me  confound  these 
conspiracies.  I  have  tried  hard,  Sahib,  to  govern  this 
country  well,  with  one  law  for  the  weak  and  the  same 


THE  RETURN  OF  SALABAT   KHAN      183 

for  the  strong.  I  read  history,  Sahib,  and  I  know  how 
the  Emperor  Akbar  ruled.  Now  and  again  men  come 
who  tell  me  how  the  English  rule,  and  how  wealth 
and  content  accrue.  The  nobles  in  this  valley  have 
resisted  me,  and  I  have  tamed  them  ;  but  they  hate 
me  and  try  to  do  me  evil.  Had  I  allowed  them  to 
grind  their  estates,  we  should  have  an  unhappy  poverty- 
stricken  valley,  and  contented  nobles,  so  far  as  these 
Toorks  and  Moguls  can  ever  be  content.  Not  that  I 
let  these  Kashmir  peasantry  do  all  they  would  like. 
An  insolent  idle  lot,  if  you  treat  them  over  generously. 
I  try  to  keep  the  mean,  Ferassa  Sahib,  and  at  times  I 
weary  of  it.  Yar  Khan  here  helps  me  with  all  his 
might,  but  he  would  flay  men  alive  oftener  to  save 
trouble.  How  do  the  English  manage  ?  " 

"  It  is  rather  a  long  story,  Your  Excellency,  and  they 
too  have  their  troubles." 

"  Well,  well !  You  must  tell  me  more  of  it  at 
leisure.  Glory  is  for  all,  and  heaven  for  those  who 
bleed.  It  is  as  holy  to  try  and  govern  well  as  to  fight 
for  God  and  His  Prophet.  Did  not  the  old  Moolah, 
who  came  from  Baramullah,  say  that,  Yar  Khan?" 

"  He  did,  Your  Excellency,  and  he  and  that  old 
Frank  priest  who  was  visiting  you  at  the  same  time 
agreed  on  that.  That  was  in  the  last  cholera  year." 

The  immediate  question,  however,  was  whether  or 
no  they  should  push  on  at  once  with  fresh  bearers, 
who  had  already  been  collected  or  remain  at  the  serai 
for  the  night. 

"  I  doubt  if  Your  Excellency  is  fit  to  move,  or  travel 
further." 

"  Man !  My  Excellency  will  suffer  much  more 
cooped  up  here  when  that  Toork  party  are  at  their 
mischief  in  Srinagar  !  A  litter's  as  good  as  a  bed. 
Let  us  start  immediately,  Sirdars!  Do  my  Chib 
retainers  come  on  with  me  to  the  Holy  City  ?  " 


184  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

"  Jo  hukm,  Khudawand  !  "  murmured  the  grizzled 
old  Chib  chieftain  in  charge  of  the  clansmen.  "  What- 
ever the  Lord  may  order." 

"  To  Srinagar  then  forthwith.  It  will  be  well  to 
arrive  by  night,  so  that  Altamish  shall  not  know  that 
I  am  in  a  litter." 

The  move  down  from  the  pass  was  uneventful, 
and  it  was  not  long  after  midnight  that  Salabat  Khan 
was  let  in  by  Ganesha  Singh,  who  was  in  charge  of  the 
main  gate  of  the  Shergarhi,  and  quietly  carried  to  his 
apartments. 

To  Ganesha  Singh's  great  satisfaction,  too,  there 
was  his  Ferassa  Sahib  wearing  his  yellow  clothes  and 
his  dragon  helmet,  so  that  all  anxieties  and  parrying 
of  his  men's  questions  was  over.  The  faithful  old 
Eajpoot  ran  to  kneel  and  put  his  arms  round  his 
sahib's  ankles  after  the  manner  of  the  East,  as  if  the 
Governor  behind  whom  he  had  been  riding  these  last 
two  days  had  not  been  the  same  man.  It  was  to  his 
squadron  leader  that  he  tendered  the  welcome,  and 
the  warmth  of  his  greeting  had  its  use  in  confirming 
the  men  in  their  belief  that  David  had  been  absent. 

"  Is  all  well  with  my  Bissalah,  Ganesha  Singh  ?  " 

"  Your  Honour,  all  is  well,  by  the  favour  of  your 
presence." 

"  Good  !  All  is  well  with  His  Excellency,  I  hear> 
and  that  the  men  have  behaved  well  and  done  me 
credit.  It  is  well,  tell  them  I  am  pleased."  And  then 
dropping  the  fiction  as  they  drew  apart  from  the  guard, 
"  Is  all  well,  old  soldier,  in  the  palace?  What  of  the 
Lady  Miriam  ?  " 

"  All  is  well,  your  honour.  The  lady  came  out  to  the 
parapet  on  the  gate  tower  after  the  gates  were  closed, 
and  called  to  know  if  I  was  there.  All  has  been  quiet." 

"  Then  you  are  satisfied  with  our  position  here?  " 

"  Sahib,  as  usual,  your  wisdom,  is  enough  for  your 


servants.  We  have  made  a  good  start,  and  I  see 
honourable  service  before  us.  The  men  are  well 
content  and  have  been  anxious  at  your  absence." 

David  smiled  and  giving  the  old  man  his  dismissal, 
withdrew  to  his  own  quarter  near  the  entrance  to  the 
Governor's  apartments.  Salabat  Khan,  he  was  told, 
had  ordered  his  litter  to  be  carried  in  to  the  ladies' 
portion  of  the  palace,  and  all  seemed  quiet. 

It  was  not  long  after  noon  the  next  morning  when  the 
Lord  Altamish,  with  retinue,  presented  himself  at  the 
gate  of  the  palace  and  demanded  entrance  in  order  to 
pay  his  respects  to  His  Excellency,  and  congratulate 
him  on  having  quelled  the  emeute  in  Hari  Parbat  so 
effectively.  Salabat  Khan  had  been  prescribed  cooling 
draughts  by  the  court  physician,  and  contrary  to 
expectation  had  been  able  to  transact  business  all 
the  morning.  Orders  were  given  for  Altamish  to  be 
admitted.  With  him  rode  Daoud  Shah,  now  guide, 
philosopher,  and  friend,  vice  Wali  Dad,  who  had  fallen 
from  his  high  estate.  They  were  admitted  to  the  inner 
court.  There,  standing  dismounted  against  the  wall, 
was  David,  still  wearing  his  dragoon  helmet.  To 
Daoud  Shah  this  was  disconcerting.  There  was  the 
very  man  whom  he  had  represented  to  Altamish  as 
sitting  in  the  seat  of  Salabat  Khan.  To  Altamish 
happily  the  young  Anglo-Indian  was  unknown,  but 
Daoud  Shah  ground  his  teeth  with  suppressed  fury. 
Here  again  was  he  up  against  this  unknown  influence 
that  had  so  humbled  him  in  the  Begum  Somru's  camp. 

On  Yar  Khan's  advice  the  wounded  Governor  had 
himself  carried  back  to  his  own  apartments,  and  there 
gave  Altamish  a  short  personal  audience.  The  inter- 
view was  purely  formal.  As  he  came  out,  Yar  Khan 
could  not  refrain  from  a  little  banter,  as  he  conducted 
the  Toork  to  his  horse. 

"  Ah,  my  Lord,  His  Excellency  is  sadly  fatigued  as 


186  A  FREELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

you  saw.  We  all  marvel  he  was  so  well  the  day  he 
rode  with  you  from  the  Amiran  Kadal.  He  was  wounded 
as  you  had  heard,  in  a  skirmish  with  Rajpoots  and 
certainly  ought  to  have  taken  more  care  of  the  wound. 
But,  as  you  know,  he  cares  little  for  himself." 

But  Altamish  was  not  always  quick  in  the  uptake, 
and  his  mind  was  preoccupied  with  Daoud  Shah's 
assurance  that  he  would  find  on  close  inspection  that 
the  Governor  was  not  Salabat  Khan.  He  had,  however, 
convinced  himself  that  the  man  he  had  interviewed 
and  paid  his  respects  to  actually  was  Salabat  Khan 
himself,  and  no  other.  From  which  he  thought  that 
Daoud  Shah  had  been  talking  as  the  Afghans  say, 
through  his  sleeve.  Any  possibility  of  substitution 
had  not  occurred  to  him.  Yar  Khan's  remarks 
therefore  contained  for  him  no  suggestion,  and  after 
passing  the  saluting  guard  at  the  gate,  he  rallied  Daoud 
Shah  on  his  absurd  suggestion  that  Salabat  Khan  was 
not  the  man  who  had  ridden  through  the  city  two  days 
ago.  But  Daoud  Shah  the  Afghan  was  not  to  be 
drawn  at  that  moment,  and  merely  replied  that  if 
his  Lordship  said  so  it  was  no  doubt  correct,  and  they 
went  their  way  in  silence  through  the  city  and  out  to 
the  house  and  garden  on  the  Dhall  Lake. 

Salabat,  fatigued  though  he  was,  insisted  on  holding 
conclave  with  Yar  Khan  and  David  on  the  military 
affairs  of  the  province,  which  must  be  thoroughly 
overhauled  if  trouble  was  ahead.  David  came  in 
from  the  main-gate,  saluting  smartly  after  the  English 
fashion,  and  the  Governor  smiled  approval. 

"  Ferassa  Sahib,  the  Wazir  and  I  have  been  talking 
of  our  forces,  and  they  must  be  increased  ;  are  you 
willing  to  help  us  in  all  our  military  affairs  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  Your  Excellency,  so  far  as  my  know- 
ledge goes." 

"  Bale,  very  well !    First  of  all  I  now  commission 


THE  BETUEN   OF  SALABAT  KHAN      187 

you  to  raise  your  troop  to  a  whole  rissalah  of  150 
lances  as  soon  as  can  be.  Do  you  see  your  way  to 
that  ?  " 

"  If  I  have  full  authority,  and  may  offer  the  terms 
that  are  necessary,  I  think  I  can.  My  own  troop  will 
be  a  nucleus,  especially  if  I  have  a  free  hand  in  pro- 
moting my  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers.  I 
want  to  work  on  the  Irregular  system  of  the  Company 
Bahadur.  I  want  to  group  each  troop  by  clan  and  race." 

"  I  have  every  confidence  in  you,  and  you  shall  have 
the  freest  of  hands.  But  I  want  more  than  that. 
There  are  two  rissalahs  of  state  horse  already.  You 
must  assist  in  improving  them.  There  are  two 
regiments  of  infantry,  the  Eegiment  of  Victory  and 
the  Eegiment  of  the  Sun,  Fateh-ki-Pultan  and  Suraj- 
ki-Pultan.  You  must  inspect  these  and  their  arms, 
and  must  tell  me  what  improvements  you  recommend  ; 
and  how  I  can  make  them  up  to  the  standard  of 
Hindostan.  Further,  my  artillery  is  not  right.  I  have 
several  cannon,  but  very  few  trained  gunners.  I  will 
give  you  full  control  over  them,  and  they  must  be 
improved.  You  shall  have  what  you  want  from  the 
military  stores.  You  agree  with  me,  Yar  Khan  ?  " 

The  old  warrior  nodded  approval,  and  David  said, 
"  Your  Excellency,  I  can  but  try.  My  father  was  an 
artillery  officer  of  the  Company  Sahib  Bahadur,  and 
I  learnt  much  of  cannon  from  him.  One  or  two  of  my 
men  have  served  the  Company  as  artillerymen." 

And  Salabat  Khan  smiled  again  and  said,  "  I  have 
full  trust." 

From  which  it  will  bo  seen  that  Yar  Khan  had 
evidently  formed  a  high  opinion  of  the  lad  and  had 
said  so  freely,  so  that  after  the  manner  of  Eastern 
courts,  David  was  about  to  rise  from  humble  grade  to 
high  command  by  the  mere  word  of  the  ruler.  Fortu- 
nately youth  is  buoyant  and  of  full  ambition.  David 


188  A  FEEELANCE   IN   KASHMIR 

felt  that  he  certainly  knew  more  of  the  military  methods 
which  had  made  the  armies  of  the  Company  so  success- 
ful, than  any  one  else  in  the  province. 

Salabat  Khan  continued.  "  You  may  have  such 
money  as  you  require  from  my  treasury,  and  all  stores." 

David  knew  something  of  the  ways  of  storekeepers 
in  Indian  states. 

"  May  I  have  authority  to  bully  all  storekeepers  who 
try  and  put  me  off  with  worthless  stores  ?  " 

The  Governor  laughed.  "  You  have  my  full  per- 
mission to  blow  any  storekeeper  or  fraudulent  teh- 
kidar  *  away  from  a  cannon.  Will  that  suffice  ?  " 

David  gravely  replied  that  it  would,  and  pocketed 
written  authority  that  the  munshi  gave  him.  Yar 
Khan  then  suggested  that  it  would  be  well  if  David 
moved  his  own  troop  out  to  the  shores  of  the  Dhall 
Lake,  to  the  opposite  side  to  that  on  which  was  the 
garden  of  Altamish,  here  there  were  some  vacant 
lines,  and  where  he  could  camp  under  the  walnut 
groves,  leaving  his  men  there  while  absent  on  his  tours 
of  inspection. 

David,  too,  was  anxious  enough  to  get  his  own  men 
clear  away  from  the  palace  and  the  always  demoralizing 
influence  of  the  city,  as  well  as  to  start  his  new  enlist- 
ments in  freer  surroundings.  An  order  to  draw  tents 
from  the  palace  store  was  given  him,  and  arrangements 
to  move  the  camp  by  water  at  once  put  in  progress. 
With  every  possible  expression  of  confidence  from 
Salabat  Khan,  David  then  set  about  his  business  and 
his  move  into  camp.  Well  equipped  with  an  order 
on  stores  and  treasury,  and  the  Begum  Somru's  second 
bill  of  exchange  still  uncashed  in  his  pocket,  he  felt 
that  the  sinews  of  war  wore  his. 

*  Contractor. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

WITH   MIRIAM   IN   THE   GARDEN 

OF  all  the  wonderful  and  beautiful  things  in  this  very 
beautiful  world,  there  are  few  that  will  compare  with  a 
spring  morning  hi  the  vale  of  Kashmir.  The  country- 
side covered  with  fruit  blossom,  the  almond  tree 
flourishing  and  the  apple  and  the  cherry  in  all  their 
glory.  The  mountains  overhanging  the  Dhall  towered 
over  the  water  in  all  the  splendour  of  their  mantle  of 
snow.  Wild  tulips  and  iris  grew  in  every  stretch  of 
grass,  and  the  very  graves  with  their  iris  fringe  echoed 
the  joy  of  the  morning.  The  glorious  sap  of  spring 
was  mantling  in  the  youth  of  the  plant  as  well  as  the 
human  world. 

In  the  Nishat  Bagh  the  fountains  sparkled  and  the 
waterfall  over  the  carved  and  nicked  cascades  danced 
in  the  morning  sun.  The  orchards  in  all  their  finery, 
and  the  green  turf  fresh  from  its  winter  sheet  of  snow 
on  the  mountain  side  above  the  gardens,  dazzled  the 
eye  with  their  freshness.  Up  on  the  slopes  the  sun 
shone  on  the  ruins  of  the  Palace  of  Fairies,  the  cells 
and  courts  of  an  ancient  Buddhist  monastery.  Outside 
the  garden  walls  with  the  moss-covered  copings,  the 
cascades  trickled  into  the  lake.  Two  of  the  vice-regal 
barges  bobbed  with  the  ripple  of  the  water,  and  thrust 
their  noses  into  the  rushes  by  the  marble  landing  steps, 
while  the  boatmen  played  cards  and  smoked  on  the 
steps. 

189 


190  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Inside,  the  Lady  Miriam  walked  alone  pulling  showers 
of  almond  blossom  on  to  her  shoulders  as  she  passed. 
Up  on  the  top  ten-ace  three  of  her  ladies  sat  or  reclined 
on  shawls  listening  to  fairy  stories  and  Persian  couplets 
from  old  Noonu  Balia,  a  famous  teller  of  stories  to  the 
ladies  of  the  household.  She  told  of  real  love  and 
adventure.  Such  love  as  they  all  knew  never  came  to 
women  outside  of  the  story  books,  but  which  it  com- 
forted them  to  think  could  at  any  rate  bo  written  of. 
But  Miriam  had  soon  tired  of  the  tales  and  strode 
away.  It  were  better  to  walk  by  one's  self  among  the 
almond  blossom  and  listen  to  one's  own  thoughts, 
than  to  the  poor  stuff  that  Noonu  told.  But  why  poor 
stuff  ?  It  had  always  sufficed  before.  And  the  answer, 
though  Miriam  would  not  have  acknowledged  it,  was 
that  her  own  heart  was  telling  her  a  far  more  stirring 
tale.  The  rich  spring  sap  was,  indeed,  circulating, 
and  there  were  pleasant  thrills  in  consequence,  and  my 
lady  knew,  she  knew  not  why,  that  the  world  was  a 
very  beautiful  world,  and  that  it  was  oh  !  so  good 
to  be  in  it.  And  then  since  Noonu  was  set  for  an 
hour,  and  the  girls  too  lazy  to  wish  to  stir,  Miriam 
thought  that  she  would  venture  outeide  the  garden, 
by  the  gardeners'  hole  in  the  wall  at  the  end  of  the  top 
terrace.  So  out  she  slipped  to  find  the  air  even  fresher 
without  and  the  world  even  brighter. 

Outside  the  wall  a  footpath  led  away  gently 
up  the  hillside  away  to  the  Palace  of  Fairies,  and 
Miriam  wondered  where  it  went.  To  wonder  in  her 
then  mood  was  to  follow.  She  climbed  gently,  just 
with  the  pleasant  feeling  of  being  out  for  a  spree. 
Since  Afghan  maids  are  not  so  bound  to  seclusion  as 
those  of  Hindostan,  she  was  not  in  the  least  dis- 
concerted at  having  left  her  companions  behind  ;  but 
to  be  alone  on  a  mountain  side  with  never  a  human  in 
sight  on  a  sunshiny  spring  morning  with  a  wonderful 


WITH  MIRIAM  IN  THE  GARDEN       191 

new  song  a  singing  in  her  heart  was  fine  wine  for  a  hill 
girl  of  high  degree. 

Up  the  path  my  lady  clomb,  past  tufts  of  little  red 
tulips,  and  whole  prayer  carpets  of  violets,  the  gentle 
banafra  that  half  Kashmir  will  be  soon  gathering  as  a 
spring  simple.  On  past  the  shooting  wild  rose  that 
is  hardly  aware  that  winter  is  gone,  and  the  purple  and 
white  iris  flower  of  forgotten  graves.  In  the  young 
grass  the  red-legged  cliikor  was  making  its  nest  and 
calling  for  his  mate,  chikor !  chikor  I  cliikor !  rather 
surprised  to  see  a  maid  alone  in  the  mating  season  of 
the  year.  Down  in  the  lake  below,  Miriam  watched 
the  fishers,  standing  in  the  prow  of  their  narrow  boats 
with  their  pronged  tridents  aloft,  a  novel  way  to  catch 
fish,  and  a  very  good  one,  and  none  so  easy  withal. 
Above,  the  Palace  of  Fairies  stood  out  in  the  sunlight 
with  its  beautiful  rows  of  arches  and  delicate  plinths, 
so  old  that  no  man  had  ever  heard  from  his  fathers  who 
built  it,  and  for  what  purpose  ;  and  all  the  world  was 
content  to  say  that  it  must  have  been  the  fairies,  whom 
hi  England  we  should  call  the  pixies,  or  some  say 
the  Pictses,  the  painted  people.  Miriam  thought  little 
save  that  it  was  a  beautiful  sight  perched  above  the 
young  hillside  against  a  clear  blue  sky,  and  that  the 
old  Buddhist  monks  who  must  have  built  it,  had  a 
keen  eye  for  a  beautiful  site.  Presently  Miriam  broke 
into  the  graded  road,  now  thickly  overgrown,  that  the 
monastery  folk  and  their  visitors  must  have  used. 
Fine  roadmakers  were  those  old  Buddhist  and  Grseco- 
Bactrian  communities. 

The  Palace  of  Fairies  was  haunted,  badly  haunted  ; 
that  all  Kashmir  knew,  but  Miriam  was  in  the  mood 
for  adventure  and  the  unseen  had  for  the  moment  few 
terrors.  She  left  the  shepherds'  path  to  turn  up  the 
graded  road,  putting  up  a  hare  as  she  did  so.  Puss 
did  not  run  far,  for  partner  hare  was  waiting  under  an 


192  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

adjacent  thorn  bush.  The  old  road  was  not,  however, 
absolutely  unused.  A  straggling  footpath  with  bruised 
stones  wandered  up  the  old  grading,  and  Miriam 
climbed  lightly  up  it.  She  did  not  see  a  solitary 
upright  figure  in  white  waiting  and  watching,  till  she 
turned  up  the  final  gradient  and  had  seated  herself 
on  a  corner  plinth  to  gaze  at  the  view  unfolded.  Then, 
the  noise  of  a  footstep  made  her  start,  and  a  voice  said, 
"  Peace  be  with  you,  daughter." 

The  greeting  was  the  greeting  of  Islam,  and  Miriam 
automatically  replied,  "  And  with  you,  too,  father  !  " 
and  then  looked  up  to  find  that  it  was  not  as  she  had 
expected  some  moollah,  guardian  of  a  shrine,  but  the 
Christian  padre,  whom  she  knew  well  by  sight,  but  had 
never  before  spoken  to.  She  had  long  wondered  what 
manner  of  man  he  was,  and  had  heard  folk  talk  of  the 
sick  whom  he  had  cured.  Since  she  had  been  thrown 
with  David  she  had  begun  to  realize  something  of  that 
mysterious  white  race,  of  whom  all  the  East  now 
talked,  whether  they  had  seen  them  or  no.  Then  there 
was  that  Western  conception  of  women,  of  which 
David  had  spoken  to  her,  with  all  the  wonder  of  honour, 
protection  and  consideration  that  seemed  to  be  implied. 
She  would  much  like  to  ask  the  padre,  the  man  of 
religion,  something  of  it,  if  she  dare,  and  something, 
too,  of  that  religion  to  which  she  had  heard  that  it 
was  due.  She  got  up  from  her  seat  on  the  plinth,  and 
thereon  the  Abbe  made  her  a  most  graceful,  courteous 
bow,  which  none  knew  how  to  make  better  than  he. 
Miriam  instinctively  understood  the  deference  and 
respect  implied.  Here  was  a  man  who  could  be  talked 
to  quite  freely  if  need  be,  which  was  exactly  the 
impression  that  the  Abbe  had  conveyed  to  all  who  met 
him  since  he  was  a  boy  at  the  old  seminary  in  Malbeige- 
la-fontaine.  It  was  a  worn,  aged  face  now,  that  looked 
down  on  the  lady,  a  face  that  had  seen  much  sorrow 


WITH  MIRIAM  IN  THE   GAEDEN       193 

and  much  bitterness,  and  had  come  by  way  of  such  to 
a  peace  that  passed  all  understanding.  And  as  those 
faded  blue  eyes  gazed  into  that  clean-bred  well-cut 
young  face,  the  wrinkles  seemed  to  fade  away  and 
the  face  looked  as  it  had  looked  in  the  days  when  half 
the  court  ladies  raved  of  it  because  it  could  not,  or 
would  not,  be  theirs  ;  and  yet  was  ever  ready  to  help 
those  who  needed  it.  Beautiful  imperious  La  Lamballe 
herself  had  been  known  to  take  rebuke,  and  to  ask  for 
guidance,  she  whom  neither  man  nor  woman  had  dared 
thwart  in  her  thoughtless  ways. 

"  So,  Lady,  you  are  not  afraid  to  come  alone  to  the 
Palace  of  Fairies  ?  There  be  few  in  Kashmir  who 
would  come  here,  on  to-day  of  all  days,  too,  the 
Festival  of  Spring." 

"  Father,  I  know  not  why  I  have  come,  save  that 
I  take  the  air,  wandering  up  from  yonder  garden." 

"  Ah,  Lady,  there  is  not  a  fairer  place  in  all  the 
earth  this  day,  than  this  plinth  of  the  Palace  of  Fairies. 
You  do  well  to  enjoy  it.  You  are,  I  think,  the  sister 
of  His  Excellency  the  Governor  of  Kashmir." 

"  That  is  so,  father,  and  you  ?  . . .  You,  I  know  well 
as  that  Christian  padre  who  cures  so  many  of  the  sick 
that  would  otherwise  die." 

"  Daughter,  if  I  am  permitted  to  heal  the  sick, 
it  is  but  the  work  that  my  Master  has  appointed 
me  to  do." 

"  Your  master,  who  is  he  ?  " 

"  My  Master  is  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  Son  of  the  God 
of  all  the  Universe." 

"  The  Prophet  Iswi,  Aleh  Salaam !  *  I  have  heard  of ; 
but  I  do  not  understand." 

"That  is  surely  not  surprising.  Some  day  when 
occasion  offers  I  will  try  and  explain  what  you  now 
find  strange." 

*  Peace  be  with  him. 

O 


194  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

"  Father,  there  are  many  questions  I  would 
ask." 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it,  daughter." 

"  Father,  you  laugh  at  me  ?  " 

"  God  forbid,  daughter,  that  I  a  man,  let  alone  a 
priest,  should  laugh  at  a  woman." 

And  here  the  Abbe's  eyes  puckered  into  a  thousand 
wrinkles,  and  Miriam  looked  up  into  them  and  saw  .  .  . 
what  she  saw,  and  broke  into  a  merry  happy  laugh, 
such  as  was  good  for  aged  weary  priests  to  see.  The 
eyes  wrinkled  more  than  ever. 

"  Father,  I  have  heard  that  the  English  treat  women 
quite  differently  from  the  way  that  we  of  the  East  do. 
That  a  man  marries  one  woman  alone  and  protects  her 
to  the  end,  whether  she  be  old  or  whether  she  be  young. 
Is  that  so  ?  " 

"  To  their  shame  there  be  many  who  do  not, 
daughter,  but  all  right  men  do  ;  and  that  is  not  only 
the  English  who  do  so,  but  all  those  of  the  Christian 
faith.  I  am  not  English,  though  I  know  them  for  a 
just  people.  I  am  a  Frenchman,  and  the  French,  too, 
treat  women,  or  aim  to  do  so,  as  I  have  said." 

"  Then,  father,  if  a  man  marries  a  woman,  will  he 
care  for  her  and  house  her  all  his  life  ;  and  that  too, 
when  she  be  old  and  querulous?" 

"  Right  men  do  so,  and  it  is  accounted  a  shame  and  a 
wrong  when  men  do  not." 

"  And  a  man  does  not  bring  a  young  woman  to  his 
house  when  his  wife  ceases  to  please  ?  " 

"  He  does  not,  or  it  is  accounted  a  shame  if  he  does, 
and  in  no  case  would  she  be  his  wedded  wife." 

"  Truly  this  is  a  wonderful  thing.  I  heard  so  before, 
but  could  hardly  believe  it." 

"  But  tell  me  now,  my  daughter,  what  makes  you 
ask  these  questions  of  the  English,  and  how  they  treat 
their  women  ?  Know  you  aught  of  them  ?  Their 


rule   is  yet  far  from  this  province  and    from  the 
Punjab." 

And  Miriam  was  for  the  moment  at  a  loss  for  an 
answer,  but  said  at  last,  with  the  blood  mantling  to  a 
cheek  sufficiently  olive  to  hide  it,  that  she  had  lately 
met  a  young  Sahib  whom  His  Excellency  had  employed 
as  a  captain  of  horse,  and  had  had  some  conversation 
with  him, 

Whereon  the  Abbe  had  mused  as  to  himself,  and  said 
half  aloud — 

"  Is  it  good  for  East  and  West  to  wed  ?  " 

And  Miriam  had  heard  him,  and  broke  in,  "  His 
father  married  an  Afghan  lady." 

Whereon  the  Abbe  had  looked  up  at  her,  and  the 
thousand  wrinkles  grew  a  thousand  more. 

"  And  wherefore  not,  lady,  wherefore  not,  Far  be  it 
from  me  to  suggest  such  a  thing.'! 

"  Father,  you  are  mocking  at  me  again," 

And  Jean  Armande  laughed,  just  the  low,  quiet, 
reliant  laugh  that  La  Lamballe  loved,  but  would  not 
have  told  him  so  for  all  the  world. 

"  Lady,  I  would  not  mock  any  woman;  as  I  have 
said  before.  Much  less  a  woman  who  is  in  love," 

"  Who  told  you  I  was  in  love,  father  ?  " 

"  You  did  yourself." 

"I,  father?  How  dare  you  say  such  things?  A 
princess  of  the  Duranni  in  love  like  a  village  girl !  In 
love !  .  .  .  And  Miriam  snatched  at  her  veil  which 
had  fallen  back  over  her  shoulders,  and  swinging 
sharply  round  marched  off  with  a  very  indignant 
chin  in  the  air,  till  she  disappeared  behind  the  grey 
walls  of  the  old  facades  of  the  ruin. 

The  Abbe  sat  silent  on  the  plinth  while  a  faint  smile 
played  round  his  mouth  and  eyes.  It  was  very,  very 
long  since  a  woman  of  sweetness  and  daintiness  had 
talked  to  him,  and  the  experience  was  very  pleasing, 


196  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

and  sad,  too,  for  all  the  tragedy  of  the  days  when  women 
had  crossed  his  path. 

"  Father,  tell  me  about  the  sick  and  how  you  make 
the  blind  see." 

The  Abbe  moved  not  at  all,  neither  looked  he  up. 

"  Sit  down,  Lady,  and  let  us  converse.  The  sick  and 
the  blind  I  heal  when  I  can  because  I  long  studied  the 
healing  arts  when  young.  Sometimes  the  blessing  of 
God  falls  on  my  work,  and  I  am  able  to  cure  those  who 
long  have  been  deemed  incurable." 

"  Tell  me  something  of  the  God  of  Christians,  that 
makes  men  treat  the  sick  and  women  so." 

Then  the  Abbe  rose  with  a  soft  look  in  the  eyes  and 
said — 

"  Daughter,  that  I  will  tell  you  with  pleasure  on 
some  future  occasion,  I  must  now  be  about  my  business. 
It  is  a  very  wonderful  and  beautiful  story  that  I  have 
to  tell.  But  it  is  not  told  in  an  hour  ;  but  this  I 
would  have  you  ponder  over.  The  God  of  the  Chris- 
tians is  a  God  of  love  and  of  peace  and  of  truth,  such 
as  you  who  have  lived  in  the  fierce  Afghan  bills  can 
hardly  conceive.  ..." 

Suddenly  the  Abbe  thought  of  La  Lamballe  and 
Fouquier  Tinqueville,  and  La  Veuve  ever  waiting  her 
spouse  .  .  .  and  wondered  how  such  things  could  be 
explained  to  wild  Afghans.  So  that  Miriam  slipped 
away  down  the  mountain  side,  unnoticed,  till  he  felt 
as  if  the  sun  had  gone  behind  a  cloud.  Then  with  a 
sigh  he  turned  to  his  shed  behind  the  ruin,  and  Miriam 
on  her  way  down,  met  two  villagers  leading  a  third 
with  bandaged  eyes,  who  said  they  were  going  up  with 
grandfer  to  see  the  padre  hakim  *  sahib  who  lived  up  on 
the  hill. 

Miriam,  wondering  and  happy,  re-entered  the  garden 

*  Doctor. 


WITH  MIRIAM  IN  THE  GARDEN       197 

to  find  her  companions  still  engrossed  in  a  third  and 
more  wonderful  story,  and  slipped  down  on  the  ground 
beside  old  Noonu,  whose  tale  now  fairly  echoed  again 
with  peris  and  heroes  and  gorgeous  horsemen.  After 
which  it  was  high  time  to  clap  hands  for  the  boatmen 
and  to  reassemble  the  party  to  return  across  the  lake, 


CHAPTER  XIX 
DAVID'S  CAMP  ON  THE  DHALL 

OUT  in  the  old  cantonment  lines  on  the  Dhall  Lake, 
David  was  as  happy  as  a  king.  The  enlisting  and 
training  of  soldiers  is  a  fascinating  sport  to  the  young 
man  of  enterprise,  who  has  inherited  any  spark  of 
the  power  of  command  and  leadership.  David  was 
certainly  not  lacking  in  this,  and  had,  moreover,  the 
good  temper  and  patience  which  is  necessary  to  train 
both  man  and  horse.  Two  of  the  many  duties  had 
seemed  urgent  and  to  demand  priority.  First,  the 
raising  of  his  own  rissalah,  and  secondly,  the  assembling 
and  organizing  of  such  artillery  as  the  province  pos- 
sessed. The  rissalah  had  been  the  first  care,  and  he 
had  sat  in  solemn  conclave  with  Ganesha  Singh  the 
old  Rajpoot  officer,  Nihal  Singh,  the  daring  Dogra 
Rajpoot  of  the  Moon,  and  Gul  Jan  Duranni  his  father's 
Afghan  orderly,  and  they  were  three  wise  men  that 
sat  with  him.  David's  experience  in  native  states 
had  taught  him  that  there  was  one  thing  that  Irregular 
troops  of  India,  either  in  the  Company's  service  or 
in  that  of  native  potentates,  understood  better  than 
the  Company's  Line,  viz.  that  to  get  the  best  out  of 
men  they  must  be  organized  by  sept  and  clan  and 
tribe,  under  their  own  class  leaders,  rather  than  mingled 
cheek  by  jowl  regardless  of  sympathy  and  liking  for 
each  other.  His  father  had  always  preached  the 

198 


DAVID'S  CAMP  ON  THE  DHALL        199 

same,  and  explained  how  first  the  Highland  regiments 
had  been  raised  on  these  lines  with  MacKenzie  com- 
panies and  Cameron  companies;  Fraser  companies; 
and  the  like,  and  that  it  was  the  Saxon  imagination 
that  failed  to  realize  the  value  of  it.  Old  EVaser  had 
always  said  that  it  was  the  Celtic  imagination  that 
saved  the  Saxon  stolidity,  and  the  Saxon  stolidity  that 
leavened  Celtic  wildness  to  make  a  ruling  race.  The 
principle,  at  any  rate,  was  firm  in  David's  mind  to 
have  clans  troops  in  his  rissaldh.  Two  should  be 
Hindu  and  two  Mussalman,  one  from  the  Marathas  and 
Rajpoot  clans  of  India  so  far  as  they  might  come 
to  hand  so  far  north,  and  one  from  Nihal  Singh's 
friends  on  the  westerly  slopes  of  the  Pir  Panjal,  one 
from  Afghan's  proper  whether  Rohilla  settled  in  India 
or  from  the  northern  hills,  and  the  last  troop  Moguls 
and  other  Muhammadans.  There  were  several  men 
in  David's  original  troop  who  were  well  fitted  to  be 
non-commissioned  officers  in  the  new  corps,  and  in  a 
week  or  so  close  on  seventy  satisfactory  men  and 
nearly  a  hundred  horses  had  been  got  together.  The 
latter,  almost  all  of  Afghan  or  Biluch  breed,  with 
a  few  of  the  curly  coated  Badakshani  ponies.  The 
Begum  Somru's  hundi  on  the  Srinagar  bankers  had 
given  ample  funds  to  supplement  those  allowed  by 
the  Governor,  and  his  men  were  well  equipped. 

Then  fortune  had  favoured  his  enterprise,  for  riding 
through  the  city  the  very  day  that  Salabat  Khan  had 
given  him  the  military  instructions  described,  he  had 
seen  a  European  leaning  and  smoking  outside  the 
travellers'  serai  in  the  city.  It  was  the  person  whoso 
arrival  had  been  reported  by  the  kotwal.  David  had  for- 
gotten the  fact  as  reported,  but  a  sight  of  the  traveller 
had  recalled  it.  It  was  a  European,  there  was  no  doubt 
of  that.  Moreover,  he  was  clothed  in  a  well-worn  but 
scrupulously  clean  officer's  undress  coatee  of  blue 


200          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

broad  cloth,  with  white  breeches  and  what  were  known 
as  "  half  "  boots.  He  was  clean  shaven,  and  his  red 
hair  flecked  with  grey  was  tied  back  in  a  rough  queue. 
A  French  cavalry  sabre  trailed  at  his  side,  and  a 
telescope  was  slung  over  his  back.  On  his  head  was  a 
flat  Austrian  field  cap,  with  a  bag  and  tassel,  that  had 
seen  better  days.  David  had  some  acquaintance  with 
the  European  adventurer  class,  indeed,  was  one  himself, 
and  readily  passed  the  time  of  day  after  the  manner 
of  the  freelances,  which  is  ornate.  The  stranger 
returned  David's  greeting  with  a  military  salute. 

"  It's  little  enough  I  expected  to  find  a  European 
here  at  all,"  said  he.  "  I'm  glad  to  meet  you,  sorr." 

"  You've  come  from  Eajputana,  I  fancy." 

"  I've  come  a  long  way,  sorr,  and  that  is  thrue  for 
you.  I  was  with  the  Chevalier  Dudrenac,  and  for  a 
while  with  Colonel  James  Skinner." 

"  Do  you  know  anything  about  artillery  ?  " 

"  Do  I  not,  sorr  !  I  was  gunner's  mate  of  a  Frinch 
privateer  before  I  joined  the  Company's  Artillery  at 
Madras  as  a  matross  of  the  Company." 

"  Are  you  open  to  employment  ?  " 

"  I  am,  sorr,  if  it's  good  enough  and  honourable,  for 
I  am  a  man  of  honour." 

"  I  am  in  command  of  the  cavalry  and  artillery  of 
the  troops  of  His  Excellency  Salabat  Khan,  Governor 
of  this  province.  I  am  Major  Fraser,  and  I  can  pro- 
bably offer  you  employment." 

"  I  shall  be  indebted  to  you,  sorr,  for  I  have  come 
here  in  search  of  military  service.  Me  name  is  Captain 
Lucius  Tone  at  your  service,  late  of  the  service  of  His 
Highness  the  Mararajah  Scindiah."  And  here  Captain 
Tone  once  again  bowed  and  saluted.  "  Are  you  by 
chance,  sorr,  the  Fraser  who  held  the  Tantri  Pass  against 
Dudrenac  Sahib  and  his  Pindarees  on  behalf  of  the 
Rajah  of  Kothi?" 


DAVID'S  CAMP  ON  THE  DHALL        201 

"  I  am." 

"  Then  it  is  proud  I'll  be  to  serve  under  ye,  sorr  ; 
ye  may  take  my  word  for  it." 

So  David  had  ridden  back  forthwith  to  see  His 
Excellency  and  Yar  Khan  and  obtain  sanction  to 
offer  the  adventurer  a  salary  of  rupees  three  hundred 
'per  mensem.  This  was  duly  accepted,  and  in  a  few 
days  Captain  Lucius  Tone,  with  his  servant  Pando 
and  his  Gulf  Arab  horse  Monaghan  were  duly  installed 
as  captain  of  artillery  to  the  province  of  Kashmir. 
David  very  soon  found  that  he  really  did  know  some- 
thing of  his  business.  Nihal  Singh  and  Gul  Jan  were 
agreed  on  this  point,  for  a  wonder.  They  had  both 
long  experience  of  artillery  as  seen  from  the  gunner's 
point  of  view,  and  Tone  certainly  filled  that.  Six 
rickety  pieces,  varying  from  four  to  nine  pounders, 
had  been  collected  from  the  Shergarhi  and  elsewhere 
as  an  instalment.  Tone  was  at  once  turned  loose 
on  these,  and  with  two  smiths  and  a  couple  of  carpenters 
from  the  city  was  busy  repairing  their  carriages.  The 
tyres  had  to  come  off  the  wheels  and  be  cut  and  shrunk, 
and  the  felloes  wanted  refitting,  and  the  trails  shaking 
out,  till  at  first  it  seemed  that  repairs  would  mean 
the  scrapping  of  the  ordnance  altogether.  This, 
however,  the  artilleryman  would  not  admit.  The 
pieces  were  inferior  he  was  bound  to  admit.  "  May 
I  be  rammed,  crammed,  and  damned  down  the  big 
gun  of  Athlone  if  iver  I  see  a  worse  lot,"  was  his 
comment,  saving  always  a  small  bronze  piece  with  a 
Persian  inscription,  that  proclaimed  the  piece  had  been 
cast  in  Samarkand  for  the  "  glory  of  God  and  His 
Prophet,"  by  one  Imamuddeen  Ghazi.  It  was  of 
gun  metal  and  a  hundred  years  old  at  least,  but  of 
exquisite  lines  and  as  sound  as  a  bell,  and  the  heart 
of  Lucius  Tone  went  out  to  it,  as  the  heart  of  man  to 
woman.  He  would  so  mount  it  and  sight  it,  and  fix 


202  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

such  elevators  that  it  should  be  famous  in  all  the 
north.  It  bore  the  poetic  name  of  the  "  Iqd-i-Gul " 
or  "  Bunch  of  Roses  "  quite  different  from  the  assertive 
names  of  guns  of  rougher  casting.  Now  gunners  are 
queer  folk  with  their  guns,  and  their  pieces  always  have 
some  psychological  influence  over  them,  so  that  they 
die  with  them  but  leave  them  not.  To  the  "  Bunch 
of  Roses  "  Lucius  Tone  had  attached  himself,  and  it 
was  well  he  did  so. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  opening  of  the  cantonment 
on  the  Dhall,  on  a  bright  sunny  morning  of  that  warm 
spring  month,  David  and  all  his  assistants  were  at  work. 
Tone  had  two  gun-carriages  stripped  on  the  ground 
with  his  artificers  busy  while  two  newly  enlisted 
artillerymen  were  polishing  the  "  Bunch  of  Roses  '! 
under  a  spreading  walnut  tree,  on  which  the  young 
leaves  were  shining  in  the  morning  sun.  David  himself 
sat  at  a  table,  two  munshis  at  his  feet  with  lacquered 
pen  box  and  shiny  native  rolls  of  paper,  making  out 
pay  rolls.  His  experience  in  native  states  had  taught 
him  that  by  way  of  the  pay  roll  came  loyalty  and 
obedience.  He  had  seen  that,  too,  at  the  Begum  Somru's 
campo  when  he  had  rescued  that  good  lady  from  her 
painful  seat  on  her  red-hot  piece  of  ordnance.  So 
an  accurate  pay  roll  and  regular  payments  were  his 
first  care.  The  rissaldh  was  daily  increasing  as  emis- 
saries collected  suitable  men.'  David  had  carried  out 
his  instructions  to  overhaul  the  two  battalions  of 
infantry,  and  he  found  that  at  present,  though  not 
void  of  good  material,  their  power  of  drill  and  manoeuvre 
was  practically  nil.  Happily  Lucius  Tone  had  como 
to  the  rescue  by  producing  a  drill  book  that  the 
Chevalier  Dudrenac  had  given  him.  It  was  one  of 
the  drill  books  published  when  the  Republican  armies 
were  shaking  themselves  free  from  their  first  wildness, 
and  a  godsend,  therefore,  to  a  reformer,  the  same  as 


DAVID'S  CAMP  ON  THE  DHALL        203 

that  from  which  the  Begum  Somru's  Kommadans 
culled  a  few  movements.  But  it  was  one  thing  to 
be  able  to  read  the  French  haltingly,  as  David  could; 
and  quite  another  to  put  it  into  Persian  for  the  use 
of  the  troops.  The  book  said — 

'  Un  bataillon  en  bataille,  rompant  par  peleton  a 
droite.  Nota ;  On  wit  V adjutant-major  qui  apres 
qu'on  a  rompu  le  bataillon,  s'est  portt  sur  I'avertissement 
du  chef  de  bataillon.'  .  .  .  How  should  such  be  trans- 
lated ?  Tone,  it  is  true,  understood  some  French,  but 
neither  enough  of  that  nor  enough  Persian  to  translate 
a  drill  book. 

While  David  was  puzzling  over  his  new  acquisition 
and  admiring  the  plates  that  showed  men  in  chakoes 
and  splatterdashes  '  dans  la  position  d'apretez  ws 
armes,  or  I'arme  au  bras,'  Gul  Jan  came  up  to  say  that 
a  padre  sahib  sent  salaams  and  was  waiting  to  see  him. 

"  A  padre'  sahib  I  "  said  David.  "  What  padre 
sahib?" 

"  I  don't  know,  Sahib,  but  they  say  he  is  a  padrddoctor 
sahib  who  has  lived  many  years  in  Kashmir,  and  cures 
sick  people  when  the  hakims  can't.  He  is  an  Angrez, 
or  a  Frarik" 

"  Ask  him  to  come  in."  And  David  rose  to  receive 
the  visitor  much  wondering,  and  to  call  for  another  seat. 

Coming  towards  him  through  the  tents  and  the 
neatly  piled  lances  which  his  men  had  just  learnt  to 
arrange  from  him,  David  saw  a  thin  white  figure  with 
a  white  skull  cap,  such  as  he  remembered  having  seen 
near  the  Catholic  church  in  Agra.  Then  in  another 
minute  he  was  bowing  to  the  Abbe  Jean  Armande 
du  Plessis,  and  even  shaking  hands  after  the  manner 
of  Europe,  while  the  Abbe  explained  how  he  often 
came  to  a  hut  of  his  on  the  hill  above  the  lake  by  the 
Palace  of  Fairies,  and  having  heard  that  there  was 
a  white  man  below,  had  ventured  to  pay  his  respects, 


204  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

half  expecting  to  find  a  countryman,  of  whom  so 
many  had  come  to  India.  And  while  he  spoke  David 
gazed  into  the  high-bred,  clean-cut  face,  and  the 
myriad  crowsfeet  that  played  thereon,  and  the 
faded  yet  active  eyes  that  looked  straight  at  you  under 
the  brows,  with  determination  and  kindliness  inter- 
mingled. 

"  I  am  no  countryman,  father,  I  am  Scotch  or  partly 
so  by  descent,  and  my  mother  was  a  Duranni.  I  am 
not  even  of  your  faith,  but  I  am  very  very  glad  to  meet 
you,  and  I  hope  I  may  often  see  you.  I  shall  be  here 
some  time  training  His  Excellency's  soldiers." 

"  Ah  !  I  heard  of  you  from  a  lady  who  told  me  that 
the  Governor  had  entertained  a  European.  She  had, 
I  think,  seen  you,  and  spoken  highly  of  you." 

"  Surely,"  said  David  eagerly.  "  Surely  not  the 
Lady  Miriam." 

"  The  same,  my  son,"  replied  the  Abbe  with  a  hint  of 
a  smile  playing  among  the  crowsfeet  round  his  mouth. 
"  Surely  a  gracious  lady." 

"  Ah !  "  was  all  that  David  could  find  to  say,  and 
then  the  Abbe's  eye  lighted  on  the  open  drill  book. 

"  Aha,  there  is  something  that  I  know,  my  old 
friend  Le  Colonel  de  Savignac's  work.  Yes,  I  thought 
so.  .  .  ." 

"  Planches  relatives  au  reglement  concernant  I'exercice 
et  les  manoeuvres  de  Vinfanterie"  A  Lille,  Chez 
Blocquelle,  1791.  Ah,  I  know  it  well.  You  study  it  ?  " 

"  I  am  trying  to  read  it  and  put  it  into  Persian  for 
His  Excellency's  battalions,  but  I  find  I  do  not  quite 
understand  it." 

"  Perhaps  I  can  help  here.  '  Six  bataillons  la 
droite  en  tete  qui  se  forment  en  ligne,'  that  would  be 
'  Shash  batayon  darawat  en  let  lain  mee  kunand.'  But 
you  don't  want  to  deal  with  a  brigade,  do  you  ?  Let 
us  get  back  to  L'dcole  de  bataillon" 


DAVID'S  CAMP  ON  THE  DHALL        205 

Then  for  a  couple  of  hours  David  and  his  new  friend 
were  absorbed  in  translating  that  drill  book,  by  which 
time  Tone  had  finished  examining  the  stripped  ordnance, 
had  designed  a  new  tangent  sight  for  the  "  Bunch  of 
Hoses,"  and  strolled  over  to  report  to  his  commander. 

David  saw  him  coming,  and  said  to  the  Abbe",  "  Here 
comes  an  assistant  of  mine,  an  Irishman.  I  must 
present  him  to  you,  but  first  may  I  crave  your  name, 
we  have  been  so  busy  translating  that  we  have  forgotten 
ceremony.  I  am  David  Fraser  at  your  service,  of 
Scottish  descent." 

"  Ah,  my  dear  sir,  the  honour  is  mine.  I  am  the 
Abbe  Armande  du  Plessis,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus. 
To  both  Scots  and  Irish  we  French  always  extend  the 
hand  of  welcome  and  cameraderie.  Present  me  to 
your  friend." 

"  Captain  Tone,  may  I  present  to  you  the  Abbe  du 
Plessis,  who  has  paid  us  the  courtesy  of  calling,  and 
has  been  helping  me  these  two  hours  to  translate  your 
drill  book." 

Lucius  Tone  stepped  eagerly  up  on  seeing  the 
Abbe's  clerical  garb,  and  at  once  knelt  and 
craved  a  blessing,  which  Armande  du  Plessis,  seeing 
that  the  new-comer  was  a  Catholic,  readily  gave. 
It  was  the  first  Catholic  he  had  seen  for  many  a  long 
year.  When  Tone  had  recovered  his  standing  position 
he  took  off  his  cap  and  saluted,  and  then  du  Plessis 
said — 

"  My  son,  it  is  long  since  I  met  one  of  our  Faith.  I 
must  have  a  long  talk  with  you  and  hear,  so  far  as  I 
may,  whence  you  come.  Do  you  talk  French  ?  " 

"I  do,  your  Riverence.  Was  I  not  gunner's  mate 
on  a  Frinch  privateer  for  a  matter  of  three  years  ?  " 

And  then  ensued  a  lively  conversation  in  what  Tone 
considered  to  be  on  his  part  the  best  of  French,  so  that 
even  David,  who  knew  but  little  of  the  language,  and 


206          A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

that  from  books,  could  not  help  smiling.  The  brogue 
of  Tone  was  delicious  and  soft  and  captivating  in 
itself,  but  hardly  suited  to  the  seafaring  argot  which 
made  up  the  most  of  his  vocabulary.  To  the  Abbe, 
however,  the  pleasure  of  using  his  own  tongue  made 
up  a  thousandfold  for  the  other's  shortcomings. 

He  was  then  pressed  to  stay  to  their  tiffin,  which 
was  laid  under  the  trees  looking  out  over  the  lake  ; 
and  he  did  so,  blessing  the  meal  with  a  Latin  grace 
which  David  had  not  heard  since  he  had  been  to  the 
old  Lodge  in  Agra  with  his  father.  And  so  the  timo 
passed  happily  till  the  guest  rose  to  go,  each  feeling 
that  they  were  a  small  European  band  of  sympathizers 
who  might  look  to  each  other  for  companionship  and 
relaxation.  The  Abbe  on  going  said — 

"  Gentlemen,  I  have  a  very  tiny  hovel  near  the 
Mosque  Hamadan,  in  the  city,  where  you  are  always 
welcome,  and  I  have  a  small  room  which  I  use  as  a 
dispensary  up  on  the  hillside.  The  country  folk 
come  to  me  there.  I  am  always  there  o'  Sundays, 
and  shall  welcome  you  even  more  there  in  the  beautiful 
sunshine.  It  is  built  up  by  a  few  peasants  against  the 
back  of  the  ruin  of  the  Palace  of  Fairies." 

David  walked  with  him  to  the  edge  of  the  camp. 
"  I  heard  of  you,  my  son,  if  I  may  call  you  so,  as  I 
said,  from  the  Lady  Miriam,  who  spoke  of  some  great 
service  you  had  rendered.  I  thought  her  a  sweet 
girl,  too  sweet  to  lead  the  life  of  tragedy  among  these 
Afghan  nobles." 

"  The  lady  makes  much  of  my  small  services,  but 
I  am  proud  that  she  should  remember  them.  She 
is  a  lady  of  great  courage  and  spirit." 

"  She  questioned  me  much  about  the  ways  of  the 
European,  especially  their  treatment  of  women." 

"  She  would  question  me,  too,  father,  when  we  had 
opportunity.  It  is  not  often  that  a  maid  can  question 


DAVID'S  CAMP  ON  THE  DHALL        207 

any  one  in  this  barbaric  land,  but  we  rode  together 
awhile  by  difficult  roads  and  so  had  quiet  conversation." 

"  Ah  well,"  returned  the  Abbe.  "  May  the  good 
God  grant  her  happiness  and  show  her  the  way  of 
peace.  I  fear  there  are  troublous  times  ahead.  The 
Toork  faction  in  this  valley  are  getting  very  powerful. 
They  are  dribbling  in  adherents  steadily.  I  fancy  the 
power  of  the  Emperor  at  Kabul  is  waning.  It  is  a 
great  empire  and  hard  to  manage.  Louis  XV.,  himself 
of  pious  memory,  could  not  have  controlled  all  these 
demons.  I  would  warn  you  especially  against  an 
Afghan  I  have  met  in  Kashmir,  aye,  and  elsewhere. 
He  goes  now  by  the  name  of  Daoud  Shah,  David — the 
same  name  as  yourself.  That  the  name  of  the  great 
David,  the  son  of  Jesse,  should  be  borne  by  such  a 
scoundrel !  That  is,  I  know,  but  an  alias.  He  is  a 
mysterious  and  evil  man.  Before  I  joined  the  priest- 
hood I  was  induced  to  join  a  secret  society,  which,  as 
you  know,  is  anathema  to  mother  Church.  I  found, 
however,  that  he,  too,  knew  some  of  the  secrets  that 
I  had  learnt.  I  will  tell  you  some  day  how  I  came  to 
know  this.  Beware  of  him." 

"  I  have  some  ken  of  him,  too,  father,  and  am  fore- 
warned. I,  too,  am  of  that  society,  I  fancy." 

"  Ah  !  you  surprise  me.  Perhaps  it  is  all  for  the 
good  that  it  should  be  so.  I  will  talk  further  of  this 
also  with  you.  Now  adieu,  my  son  !  It  has  given  me 
great  pleasure  to  meet  you  two  gentlemen." 

David  watched  the  light,  erect  figure  stride  down  the 
slope  and  out  of  the  camp  as  if  his  life  was  beginning 
rather  than  nearing  its  end,  and  prayed  that  he,  too, 
might  be  as  worthy.  More  especially  he  prayed  that 
it  might  be  given  to  him  to  protect  the  Lady  Miriam 
through  life,  and  especially  to  see  her  through  the 
brewing  troubles.  And  then  he-  walked  off  to  go 
round  the  horse  lines,  the  last  care  of  all  horse  soldiers. 


CHAPTEB  XX 

DURBAR   AND    FESTIVAL 

IT  was  not  till  several  days  after  his  return  that  Salabat 
Khan  could  think  of  holding  his  first  public  durbar 
or  Iev6e,  though  Yar  Khan  soon  began  to  urge 
that  it  was  really  important  to  do  so.  Not  only  were 
there  those  who  wished  to  see  their  chief  after  the 
rumours  of  his  death  and  wound,  but  there  were  others 
with  petitions  to  prefer,  and  there  were  several  appeals 
from  the  orders  of  local  officials  to  be  heard.  The 
Governor  then  expressed  himself  well  enough  to  hold 
a  formal  durbar  the  day  after  the  next,  which  would  be 
the  Festival  of  Spring,  when  the  whole  city  would  be 
illuminated  in  the  evening,  and  the  river  be  crowded 
with  boats  covered  in  small  lamps.  At  this  procession 
the  vice-regal  barges  were  usually  present,  and  it  was 
the  custom  for  His  Excellency  to  proceed  in  state  by 
water  to  be  dined  by  some  leading  personages  of  the 
city,  whose  ladies  received  the  palace  ladies  behind 
the  grille.  It  would  be  convenient  to  hold  the  durbar 
the  morning  of  that  day.  The  usual  notices  were 
promptly  issued,  and  the  town  criers  sent  through  the 
city.  David  was  directed  to  be  present  with  his  own 
rissalah,  and  the  garrison  of  Shergarhi  would  also 
attend. 

On  the  appointed  day  the  Durbar  duly  assembled 
in  the  great  hall  of  audience,  and  curiosity  as  well  as 

208 


DUBBAB  AND  FESTIVAL  209 

business  brought  all  those  who  could  by  any  means 
claim  a  right  to  a  seat.  With  them  also  came  many 
of  the  general  public,  for  at  the  Governor's  Durbar 
there  was  no  limit  to  all  of  orderly  behaviour  who  might 
enter  into  the  outer  court  and  stand,  if  they  could  find 
room  at  the  bottom  of  the  hall. 

The  scene  was  one  of  considerable  magnificence.  In 
the  outer  court  Habib  Ullah's  bodyguard,  and  David's 
rissalah,  were  drawn  up  facing  each  other.  Two  of 
His  Excellency's  elephants  in  gold-embroidered 
caparisons  and  newly-painted  trunks  shuffled  cease- 
lessly. Outside  the  palace  gate,  a  score  or  so  of  beggars, 
blind,  shrivelled,  and  leprous,  whined  for  alms.  On  a 
raised  dais  at  the  end  of  the  hall  sat  His  Excellency, 
surrounded  by  his  principal  officers.  Standing  on 
either  side  of  the  hall  were  those  who  had  the  right 
of  entrd,  and  in  the  middle  of  the  hall  was  ample 
space  for  petitioners  and  litigants  to  advance  to  the 
foot  of  the  dai's.  Among  those  who  had  the  entre  was, 
of  course,  the  Lord  Altamish,  handsomely  apparelled 
in  embroidered  plum  silk  with  ?.  jewelled  sword.  As 
His  Excellency  had  advanced  up  the  hall  to  the  dais, 
many  of  the  sirdars  presented  him  with  the  hilts  of 
their  swords  as  a  sign  of  fealty  usually  only  proffered 
to  royalty,  merely  to  be  touched  as  a  sign  of  acceptance 
of  service.  Altamish  himself,  while  reviling  in  his 
heart,  was  fain  to  do  as  the  demands  of  policy  needed, 
and  extend  his  inlaid  sword  hilt  also,  marvelling  the 
while  on  the  folly  of  Daoud  Shah,  who  had  said  that 
the  Governor  did  not  ride  through  the  city  that  day. 
Salabat  Khan  stopped  in  his  passage  up  the  hall  to 
talk  with  the  more  prominent  of  those  present.  Some 
of  the  Afghan  landowners  from  the  more  distant  valleys 
had  come  in  to  felicitate  the  Governor  on  his  escape 
and  recovery,  rugged  old  chiefs,  some  of  them 
holding  large  fiefs  in  the  Lolab  Valley,  where  they 


210          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

lived  on  their  estates  and  grew  capons  at  ease  under 
Salabat  Khan's  competent  regime. 

Finally  moving  to  his  seat  of  audience  on  the  dais 
the  ordinary  work  began.  There  were  two  complaints 
of  exorbitant  demands  from  the  tax-gatherer,  and  a 
third  for  remission  of  revenue  owing  to  damage  from 
a  flood.  Then  a  complaint  from  a  farmer  up  on  the 
Kashmir  side  of  the  Pir  Panjal,  who  said  that  Eajpoots 
had  come  over  the  frontier  and  carried  off  his  sheep. 
And  so  forth,  none  of  iirst  importance,  and  Salabat 
Khan  grew  bored,  and  his  mood  became  whimsical. 
Kneeling  on  the  steps  of  the  dais  was  the  treasurer, 
Nubbi  Bakhsh,  busy  counting  over  a  bag  of  tribute  sent 
in  that  morning.  Now,  according  to  the  customs  of 
the  East,  those  on  the  dais  had  removed  their  shoes, 
while  those  below  in  the  body  of  the  hall  did  not. 
Presently  one  of  the  spies,  without  whom  no  Oriental 
methods  of  rule  are  complete,  went  round  behind 
Salabat  Khan  and  whispered  that  every  now  and  then 
Nubbi  Bakhsh  slipped  a  coin  into  his  shoe.  It  has 
been  mentioned  that  His  Excellency  was  in  a  whimsical 
mood.  Ho  looked  at  Nubbi  Bakhsh  and  then  at  the 
Wazir  Yar  Khan. 

"  Yar  Khan  !  "  he  called  aloud.  "  Yar  Khan  !  what 
beastly  big  feet  you've  got." 

Now,  Yar  Khan  had  his  shoes  off,  and  was  intensely 
taken  aback  by  this  sudden  attack. 

"  My  feet !  Your  Excellency,  my  feet !  They  are 
no  bigger  than  those  of  a  soldier  should  be." 

"  Nonsense,  man,  I  tell  you  they  are  beastly  feet. 
Now,  if  you  want  to  see  nice  graceful  feet,  you  should 
see  Nubbi  Bakhsh's.  Here,  Nubbi  Bakhsh !  Stop 
counting  out  rupees.  Come  up  on  the  dais  here  and 
let  the  gentry  see  what  very  well-made  feet  you  have. 
I  want  the  Sirdar  Yar  Khan  to  be  ashamed  of  his." 

But  Nubbi  Bakhsh  did  not  respond  with  alacrity. 


DURBAR  AND  FESTIVAL  211 

IIo  was  feeling  unwell.  His  mother  was  dying.  His 
foet  were  not  fit  to  be  shown  to  gentry  ;  he  would 
crave  His  Excellency's  permission  to  withdraw.  .  .  . 
But  His  Excellency  would  have  none  of  it. 

"  Come  here  at  once,  Nubbi  Bakhsh,  do  you  hear 
me !  "  he  shouted  in  a  voice  that  before  now  has  por- 
tended a  vacancy  in  a  culprit's  family.  And  poor 
Nabbi  Bakhsh  the  publican  crawled  on  to  the 
clai's. 

"  Take  your  shoes  off,"  said  the  same  stern  voice. 

Poor  Nubbi  Bakhsh,  who  had  no  friends,  slipped 
off  his  shoes,  and  as  he  did  so  a  gold  moJir  rolled  to 
the  ground. 

"  Hold  up  his  shoes." 

Some  one  held  up  his  shoes.  There  rolled  out  on 
to  the  floor  four  gold  coins,  and  half  a  dozen  rupees. 

"  Nubbi  Bakhsh,"  said  the  Governor,  "  this  is  a 
pretty  way  to  pilfer  my  revenue  as  you  count  the  bags 
before  me.  You  will  now  go  to  the  Shergarhi  dungeon 
till  you  pay  in  to  me  the  sum  of  one  lakh  of  rupees  to 
teach  you  to  play  tricks  on  me  again." 

Nubbi  Bakhsh,  the  picture  of  woe,  with  tears  rolling 
down  his  cheeks,  was  removed,  while  the  whole  Durbar 
roared  with  laughter.  A  good  jest  at  some  one  else's 
expense  was  the  very  thing  wanted  to  cheer  them. 
No  one  had  any  sympathy  with  a  tax-gatherer  or 
revenue  official.  Such  people  by  instinct  accumulated 
illgotten  gains,  and  when  judiciously  bled  would  always 
disgorge  if  needs  must.  Nubbi  Bakhsh  would,  of 
course,  pay  up.  He  probably  had  pilfered  twice 
that  sum.  No  government  in  the  East,  except  perhaps 
that  of  the  Company,  had  ever  been  able  to  contend 
against  it,  and  many  devices  were  used  to  keep  it 
within  bounds.  In  the  villages  now  and  again  the 
village  money-lender  and  corn  merchant  would  be 
roasted  over  a  slow  fire  till  he,  too,  disgorged.  It  was 


212  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

the  only  known  way  to  keep  such  folk  within 
reason. 

Nubbi  Bakhsh  paid  the  next  clay  and  was  released, 
still  weeping.  This  little  diversion  over,  Salabat  Khan 
and  his  officers  returned  with  new  zest  to  business,  and 
for  an  hour  the  assembly  in  the  hall  chatted  while 
complaints  and  reports  were  heard  at  the  head  of  the 
room.  These  over,  His  Excellency  called  for  the 
reports  of  the  frontier  wardens.  From  the  Lolab, 
all  quiet,  but  rumours  of  unrest  among  the  Black 
Mountain  tribes.  From  Gurais,  one  or  two  raids, 
by  men  of  the  Trans-Indus  Kohistan.  From  Skardu, 
merchants  reported  raids  by  Khanjut  robbers  from 
Hunza.  From  Bunjee  more  reports  of  raids  and 
threatened  incursions  from  Tangir  and  Darel.  The 
outlook  was  not  quite  satisfactory.  The  Governor 
had  called  to  David  to  hear  the  reports,  and  had 
emphasized  to  him  the  necessity  for  getting  the  army 
ready  in  case  serious  action  should  become  necessary. 
What  about  the  mountain  guns  ?  Would  they  be 
fit  to  take  the  field  ?  David  explained  his  plans  for 
mounting  them  on  Yarkand  ponies  to  be  carried  on 
pack  in  pieces.  He  and  Tone  were  preparing  two  small 
mortars  and  two  cannon.  The  Governor  expressed 
approval. 

"  If  this  goes  on,  Ferassa  Sahib,  I  shall  have  to  go 
and  hammer  these  people.  They  are  not  too  easy 
to  get  at,  so  get  everything  ready  as  soon  as  you  can. 
Do  you  want  any  orders  on  the  store  or  the  treasury  ? 
We  will  make  Nubbi  Bakhsh  pay.  He  won't  get  the 
revenue  from  Gurais  if  we  don't  have  good  troops." 

David  had  a  vanity,  as  officers  of  cavalry  often  have. 
He  very  much  wanted  to  give  his  own  men  an  em- 
broidered waist  cloth,  and  a  crimson  saddle  cloth  to 
their  horse  which  should  also  serve  as  a  horse  rug  in 
the  field.  If  Nabbi  Bakhsh  pays,  why  not  ?  He  got 


DURBAR  AND  FESTIVAL  213 

them  and  went  his  way  rejoicing  at  this  extra  finery. 
The  essentials  of  war  he  had  already  obtained  for  his 
reorganization. 

Soon  after  noon,  business  was  finished  and  Salabafc 
Khan  gave  the  assembly  the  ruTihsat,  viz.  the  leave 
to  depart.  The  higher  sirdars  went  with  a  fanfare 
from  the  cavalry  trumpets,  and  as  Altamish  rode 
through  the  gates  he  was  joined  by  Daoud  Shah,  who 
had  been  among  the  throng  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
hall.  Altamish  remarked  to  him  on  the  improved 
appearance  of  the  cavalry  on  duty  in  the  courtyard,' 
but  this  had  by  no  means  escaped  the  latter's  notice. 
He  had  been  keeping  himself  fairly  well  informed  of 
all  that  was  going  on  in  the  military  line.  Tone's 
employment,  too,  he  knew  of,  and  the  improvement 
that  was  being  made  in  the  artillery.  To  Altamish  he 
replied — 

"  I  have  noticed  and  have  known  of  it  for  some  time. 
That  young  half-breed,  Ferassa  Sahib  they  call  himj 
is  a  good  soldier.  It  will  be  easier  for  you  to  bring 
off  your  plans  soon,  than  a  year  hence.  Fortunately 
he  is  drilling  his  troops  after  the  manner  of  the  Company. 
Excellent  against  others  in  the  plains  of  India,  but 
little  enough  good  when  we  get  them  up  in  the 
mountain  gorges  among  the  tribesmen  of  the  hills. 
We  must  get  the  whole  of  this  trained  army  there 
and  wipe  them  out.  You  know  how  it  has  been  done 
in  the  past.  You  know  how  Ahmed  Shah  himself 
lost  a  highly  drilled  force  against  the  Ghilzais.  There 
was  once  an  army  from  Bactria  under  a  Greek  com- 
mander that  came  down  against  the  Aproetae  whom 
men  now  call  the  Afridis.  They  were  armed  and 
marched  as  the  Romans  used  to  march,  but  they 
struggled  out  of  those  hills  a  tenth  of  those  who  went 
in.  Their  bones  and  their  helmets  strewed  the  Khyber 
for  many  a  year." 


214          A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIB 

"  You  talk  of  men  and  times  I  never  heard  of.  Who 
were  the  Bactrians  and  the  Bomans  ?  Had  they 
anything  to  do  with  Badshdh  Sikander,  and  his  men, 
who  people  say  built  those  old  ruins  in  Euzufzai  ?  " 

"  Ah  !  Badshali  Alexander  was  before  my  time,  but 
he  left  a  Greek  kingdom  behind  him  up  in  Bactria, 
near  where  Samarkand  is  now.  He  did  leave  garrisons 
in  India,  but  they  were  swept  away  in  a  year  or  so. 
Not  so  the  Bactrian  kingdom.  That  lasted  for  many 
a  generation,  and  those  Bactrian  kings  reconquered 
eventually  most  of  the  Punjab.  How  do  I  know 
such  things  ?  Well,  my  Lord  Altamish,  I  know  them 
from  two  causes.  First  I  read  history  and  find  myself 
the  wiser  therefore.  Secondly,  I  myself  .  .  .  pshaw ! 
You  would  not  believe  it  if  I  told  you.  There  is 
one  man  only  in  Kashmir,  aye,  for  the  matter  of  that 
in  the  world  perhaps,  who  knows  how  I  know  the 
things  I  do  know.  Nay,  my  lord,  there  is  nothing 
to  start  at.  Surely  a  Toork  is  not  easily  disturbed. 
However,  enough — but  I  agree  with  you  that  this 
pestilent  young  Englishman  and  his  reformed  horse 
will  need  watching.  I  have  already  arranged  that 
he  should  be  watched." 

So  Daoud  Shah,  vapouring  and  sneering,  and  the 
Toork  listening  uneasily,  the  choice  spirits  rode  away 
together  towards  the  city.  David,  after  watching 
them  out  of  sight  and  dismissing  his  men,  strolled 
down  to  the  river  bank  to  watch  the  boatmen  catch 
logs,  and  run  them  into  the  sand-bank.  As  he 
approached  the  bank,  a  considerable  hubbub  arose 
just  below  the  palace  steps.  A  great  rice  barge  had 
collided  with  one  of  His  Excellency's  boats,  and  the 
Kashmiri  boatmen  were  indulging  in  loud  abuse, 
which  chiefly  took  the  form  of  destroying  the  credit 
of  each  other's  female  relatives.  The  Kashmiri  is 
a  huge  muscular  animal  with  a  gift  for  quarrelsome 


DUKBAR  AND  FESTIVAL  215 

language  which  he  is  much  too  much  of  a  poltroon  to 
convert  into  any  form  of  action.  After  endeavouring 
to  get  one  set  of  boatmen  to  board  the  other's  boat 
without  avail  David  bade  them  sternly  cease  their 
clamour  lest  he  beat  them,  and  then  moved  up  the 
bank  to  watch  the  state  boats  getting  ready  for  the 
evening's  festival.  At  the  Festival  of  Spring  it  is 
the  custom  for  half  the  town  to  come  down  the  river 
after  dark  in  boats,  illuminated  to  the  counter  with 
myriads  of  chirags,  small  earthen  lamps  with  a  wick  set 
in  mustard  oil,  the  which  give  a  fairyland  effect  of 
great  beauty.  On  the  banks  of  the  river  the  roofs  of 
the  houses,  the  window  sills,  and  the  door  plinths 
would  be  similarly  illuminated.  It  had  been  the 
custom  during  the  last  few  years  for  the  Governor  to 
go  in  procession  in  his  own  illuminated  barges  to  dinner 
with  some  noble,  and  this  evening  was  to  be  no 
exception.  Therefore  it  was  that  the  state  barges 
were  being  got  ready  for  the  evening. 

Having  whiled  away  half  an  hour  or  so  for  no  better 
reason  than  that  some  sight  or  sign  of  the  Lady  Miriam 
might  be  vouchsafed ;  David  bethought  himself  of 
work  to  do  that  afternoon  out  at  his  camp,  and  went 
in  search  of  his  orderly  and  his  horse.  There  was  still 
a  squad  of  young  troopers  with  whose  riding  he  was 
not  quite  satisfied,  and  to  whom  Ganesha  Singh  had 
been  giving  an  extra  polish ;  he  had  promised  to  see 
them  that  afternoon.  Tone  also  wanted  him  to 
see  the  new  mountain  gun  equipment.  Back,  there- 
fore, to  camp  he  rode,  intending  to  return  in  time  to 
join  in  His  Excellency's  state  progress.  He  had  a 
boat  of  his  own,  which  six  of  his  troopers  could  paddle 
for  him,  and  would  come  in  that.  That  boat  would 
be  in  waiting  below  the  slopes  of  the  Throne  of  Soloman, 
above  the  city,  and  he  would  ride  across  from  his 
cantonment  to  it  when  his  work  was  over.  So  planning, 


216          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

David  bwung  himself  on  to  his  horse  and  started  for 
the  Dhall  at  a  hand  canter.  On  his  way  through  the 
Lai  Bazaar  he  saw  Daoud  Shah  in  converse  with  half 
a  dozen  of  the  wildest  looking  hillmen  as  could  well 
be  imagined.  They  were  dressed  in  slate-grey  shirts 
and  short  loose  drawers  with  a  kummerbund  stuck  with 
pistols  and  knives.  Gul  Jan,  who  was  with  him, 
thought  they  must  be  Afridis  from  the  Khyber,  but 
as  a  matter  of  fact  they  were  men  from  the  Black 
Mountain  come  to  see  life  in  Kashmir. 

It  was  after  five  before  David  could  get  away  from 
his  parade  ground,  and  dark  before  he  arrived  at  the 
bank  where  his  shikara  *  awaited  him.  He  called  to 
them  to  light  up  the  little  lamps  and  row  down  to 
the  landing  steps  of  the  Shergarhi,  where  he  would 
join  the  Governor's  procession.  It  was  down  stream, 
and  the  stout  arms  of  his  troopers  soon  brought  the 
light-weight  boat  down  to  the  Palace.  Here,  however, 
he  was  annoyed  to  find  that  His  Excellency  had  left 
ten  minutes  earlier,  and  that  he  was  too  late  to  accom- 
pany the  Governor's  party.  It  was  vexatious,  very  ! 
He  had  so  hoped  that  he  might  have  had  speech  with 
the  Lady  Miriam,  and  now  he  had  probably  missed 
the  opportunity,  and  David  swore  audibly  to  himself 
after  the  manner  of  the  English,  at  which  old  Gul 
Jan  looked  up  and  chuckled  ;  how  like  his  father  the 
boy  was  at  times  !  But  fortune  sometimes  cometh 
to  a  man  with  both  hands  full.  A  figure  stepped  out 
from  the  shade  of  the  Watergate  above,  and  called 
out,  "  Is  that  our  boat,  Wazir  Sahib  ?  "  It  was  Miriam 
herself. 

"  Nay,  Lady,"  called  the  overjoyed  David.  "  I  have 
this  boat  for  you." 

Now,  this  was  not  strictly  true,  and  suggested  that 

*  A  canoe-like  boat  propelled  by  paddles. 


DUBBAE  AND  FESTIVAL  217 

he  had  been  specially  left  for  her,  but  all  is  fair  in 
love. 

"  How  provoking  of  them  to  go  on.  Is  that  you, 
Ferassa  Sahib  ?  Will  you  help  me  down  ?  " 

Then  David  stepped  on  to  the  plinth  and  held  out 
his  hand,  and  for  the  first  time  held  that  fairy  hand 
firmly  in  his,  and  very  small  and  warm  and  fascinating 
it  was,  as  he  helped  her  down  and  over  the  gunwale 
into  the  little  lacquered  cupola  in  the  stern  of  the 
boat. 

"  There  is  not  much  room  here,  Sahib.  You  had 
better  sit  down  on  the  cushions  here  beside  me."  And 
then  to  some  one  up  above,  "  You  come  in  the  next 
boat,  Amah.  I  shan't  want  any  one.  I  shall  join  the 
Bibi  Sahib's  in  the  city,"  and  then  bade  David  push  off. 

It  has  been  said  that  fortune  cometh  once  and 
again  with  full  hands.  With  the  right  she  brought 
the  Lady  Miriam,  with  the  left  she  offered  David  a 
seat  beside  her,  a  seat  too,  away  from  the  crew  who 
were  steered  by  the  leading  paddle  and  not  from  the 
stern. 

"  Lady,"  began  David,  "  I — I  have  long  wanted  to 
hear  that  you  are  no  worse  for  our  ride  together,  and 
your  brave  deeds  that  day." 

"  Ferassa  Sahib,  how  can  you  talk  of  my  brave 
deeds  when  I  but  sat  the  horse  beside  you  and  dear 
old  Yar  Khan.  It  was  you.  You,  who  rode  as  if 
you  had  been  a  governor  all  your  life,  and  reassured 
the  people,  aye,  and  hanged  that  wicked  Kommadan." 

"  Lady,  an  English  poet  wrote,  '  They  also  serve 
who  only  stand  and  wait,'  my  father  often  read  it  to 
my  mother.  If  you  had  not  ridden  so  patiently  and 
bravely  beside  us,  I  could  not  have  gone  through 
the  part." 

"  Ah,  now  tell  me  more  of  your  mother,1  and  the 
English.  You  told  me  your  mother  was  an  Afghan 


218  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

lady.  It  was  a  remarkable  thing  that  she  should 
inarry  an  Englishman." 

"  Not  at  all,  Lady  Miriam.  Sitting  here  with  you 
it  seems  the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world,  for  an 
Englishman  or  half  an  Englishman  to  marry  an  Afghan 
lady." 

And  it  must  be  admitted  that  David  was  making 
considerable  progress  in  the  art  of  serious  love-making, 
which  is  perhaps  the  way  of  men  of  action.  At  any 
rate,  the  attack  was  too  direct  for  Miriam  to  notice, 
and  the  two  remained  silent,  David's  heart  beating 
as  it  had  never  beat  before,  and  seeing  now  clear  before 
him  the  course  he  would  pursue,  and  the  goal  he  would 
arrive  at. 

Then  David  said,  "  Though  I  speak  of  my  father  as 
English,  he  was  really  of  another  tribe  that  is  allied 
with  them,  and  sends  many  officers  and  men  out  to 
Hindostan.  He  was  really  a  Scotchman,  and  they  are  a 
people  who  live  up  in  great  mountains  like  the  Afghans, 
and  would  often  fight  among  themselves.  Tell  me; 
Lady  Miriam,  would  you  come  and  be  the  wife  of  a 
Scotch  adventurer  in  Hindostan,  and  live  the  life 
that  a  freelance  lives  ?  Would  you  trust  yourself 
alone  for  ever  with  a  Frank  ?  " 

It  was  a  fairly  abrupt  proposal  of  marriage,  far 
different  from  the  ceremonious  come  and  go  of  agents 
and  matchmakers  that  would  precede  such  matters 
in  a  high-grade  Afghan  family.  But  then  Miriam 
had  been  leading  a  life  far  different  from  that  of  an 
ordinary  maid  of  her  class.  Then  there  were  other 
differences.  An  Afghan  marriage  meant  to  share  or 
rule  a  home  till  another  was  brought  to  rule  or  to 
quarrel ;  but  this  man,  after  the  manner  of  the  Frank, 
had  said  alone  and  for  ever  !  And  Miriam,  like  many 
another  maid  of  Europe,  never  doubted  that  it  would 
be  so,  Therefore,  being  free  of  guile,  or  just  as  free  as 


DUEBAB  AND  FESTIVAL  219 

those  can  be  that  have  no  other  weapon,  she  looked  up 
into  David's  face  and  put  her  hand  in  his.  Whereon 
that  young  man  did  something  quite  unknown  to 
Miriam's  conception  of  courtship.  He  moved  the 
light  veil  aside  and  kissed  her  twice,  once  on  the 
forehead  and  once  on  the  lips.  On  the  forehead  for 
respect,  and  the  lips  for  love,  since  '  the  love  that  is 
purest  and  sweetest  has  a  kiss  of  desire  on  the  lips.' 
All  of  which  lay  strictly  outside  the  proper  curriculum 
of  courtship  as  revealed  by  old  Amah. 

And  all  the  while  the  shikara  paddled  easily  down 
the  stream  past  the  rows  and  rows  of  little  lamps  that 
flickered  along  the  housetops  and  the  plinths,  and  were 
reflecting  a  thousand  times  in  the  slowly  rolling  Jhelum. 
Past  other  boats  beautifully  illuminated,  and  great 
rice  barges  fifteen  feet  in  the  sheer  that  loomed  all 
the  blacker  for  a  row  of  lights  on  their  lofty  lumbering 
stern.  Past,  too,  the  latticed  verandahs  that  overhung 
the  water,  past  the  temples  in  which  the  great  bronze 
conches  brayed  out  the  hour  of  worship.  Past  the 
mosques  whence  the  muezzin  again  insisted,  "  Prayer 
is  better  than  sleep  !  Prayer  is  better  than  sleep  ! " 
as  if  any  one  had  any  intention  [of  sleeping  and  very 
few  of  praying  at  that  hour,  at  any  rate.  Then 
perhaps  because  Gul  Jan  was  forgetful  and  thoughtless; 
or  perhaps  because  he  was  very  wise  and  knew  the 
ways  of  sahibs,  the  shikara  ran  close  in,  under  the 
gloom  of  the  plinths,  within  the  glare  of  the  lamps, 
seeing  and  unseen,  and  glided  down  under  the  great 
piles  of  the  bridges  and  past  all  the  bands  and  musicians 
and  laughing  chattering  crowds,  till  half  the  night 
might  have  passed  away,  while  whispered  the  wind  and 
murmured  the  water. 

But  there  is  a  limit  to  all  things,  and  when  they 
had  passed  the  last  bridge,  Gul  Jan  thought  the  limit 
had  come. 


220  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

"  Where  does  your  honour  wish  to  go  ?  " 

"  Why,  to  the  city  reception  hall,  of  course,  where 
the  city  merchants  entertain  His  Excellency." 

"  We  passed  that  five  bridges  ago." 

"  Oh,  Gul  Jan,  you  are  careless.  Why,  His  Excel- 
lency expects  the  Lady  Miriam,  who  sits  here  patiently 
waiting  for  us  to  take  her  there." 

"  Whatever  your  honour  orders  shall  be  done  swiftly. 
Oh,  foolish  rowers  !  about  boat  at  once,  and  take  the 
presence  and  the  lady  to  where  they  would  go." 

Sometimes,  as  David  remembered  noticing  before, 
the  old  orderly  had  a  hint  of  banter  in  his  respectful 
speech. 

Back,  therefore,  upstream  against  the  current  under 
the  illuminated  bridges  once  again  the  shikar  a  sped. 
But  it  is  not  hard  for  two  lovers  to  lose  themselves 
without  being  missed.  Every  one  had  thought  the 
Lady  Miriam  was  with  other  ladies  behind  the  grille. 
Salabat  Khan  had  thought  she  was  with  the  ladies, 
and  they  had  thought  she  was  with  him.  Only  Yar 
Khan's  eyes  closed  a  shade  more  than  usual.  And 
she — oh,  she  was  quite  clever  enough  to  take  advantage 
of  that,  and  then  amid  the  glare  and  festivities,  lost 
ken  of  the  immortal  hour  in  the  shikara  till  once  again 
she  sat  in  the  stern  sheets  of  a  boat,  on  the  way  back 
to  the  palace. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

THE   GROVES   OF   ASHTABOTH 

MIRIAM  sat  in  her  own  boat  following  in  the  wake  of 
her  brothers  and  his  Begums.  It  was  a  long  row  back 
against  the  current,  and  the  rowers  were  chanting 
as  they  swung  their  paddles.  The  short,  quick  stroke 
changed  now  and  again  to  a  long,  steady  one,  as  the 
head  boatman  changed  the  chant.  The  rowers 
paddling  on  the  bow  side  chanted  to  those  on  the  other, 
who  answered  back,  "  Allah  pahunchaega !  Khuda 
Tea  m  rzi.  Allah  pahunchaega.  Khuda  ka  mtirzi." 
"  God  will  bring  us  there,  if  it  be  His  will.  God  will 
bring  us  there,  if  it  be  His  will."  A  short  and  quick 
stroke,  "  Allah  pahunchaega  !  Allah  pahunchaega  !  " 
changing  to  a  long  stroke,  "  Kudum  durdz  I  Kudum 
duraz !  Kudum  durdz"  and  the  paddle  dipped  deep 
into  the  muddy  Jhelumand  the  boat  leapt  to  the  changed 
stroke.  But  the  crowd  of  returning  boats  and  sight- 
seers rowing  up  and  down  was  great.  The  pace  had 
to  slow  down,  and  Miriam's  boat  was  separated  from 
the  rest  of  the  viceregal  party.  Shortly  above  the 
fifth  bridge  there  was  a  jam  and  the  head  boatman 
turned  aside  by  another  canal  that  led  towards  the 
Garden  of  Chenars.  Here,  however,  the  press  seemed 
no  clearer,  after  proceeding  half  a  mile  it  was  not 
even  possible  to  turn.  !'  Fool  that  I  am  I "  said 
Kashmiru  the  head  boatman,  aloud.  "  Fool  that  I 

221 


222          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

am.  I  have  forgotten  that  this  is  the  Feast  of  Spring, 
and  that  the  women  go  to  the  temple  of  Mahadeo." 

"  Without  doubt,"  chorused  the  rowers,  "  we,  too, 
had  forgotten,  not  being  Hindus  small  shame  to  us. 
What  ken  should  the  sons  of  Islam  have  of  such  things  ?  ' ' 

There  they  lied  in  their  hearts,  for  each  one  knew 
that  his  forbears  had  been  converted  to  Islam  at 
the  swords'  point,  and  that  they  cherished,  half 
unwittingly,  it  is  true,  many  memories  of  the  old 
religion.  Probably  the  wives  of  one  or  two  were 
actually  taking  part  in  the  worship  of  the  spirit  of 
nativity.  Sons  were  needed,  and  if  Islam  would  not 
help  the  old  gods  might.  It  is  ever  thus  in  Hindostan. 

Miriam  heard  Kashmiru's  ejaculation,  and  called  him. 
;<  Where  are  we,  Kashmiru  ?  When  did  you  leave 
the  river  ?  I  did  not  notice." 

"  I  turned  up  here,  Lady,  to  escape  the  crowd  of 
boats  on  the  big  river,  meaning  to  turn  round  by  the 
canal  of  the  waterlilies.  But  here  we  are  jammed  in 
by  many  boats,  and  I  had  forgotten  that  this  is  the 
night  that  the  Hindu  women  attend  at  the  temple 
of  Mahadeo,  a  curse  on  them  for  their  idolatry,  and 
I  cannot  turn  yet  nor  stop." 

Miriam  had  often  heard  of  the  festival,  of  the 
mysteries  and  idolatries  connected  therewith.  She  had 
some  feeling  of  curiosity,  and  also  of  horror  and  dread, 
since  Islam  abhors  idols  and  saturnalia.  Old  Amah 
drowsed  with  her  head  on  her  knees  outside  the  curtains 
of  Miriam's  awning. 

"  Amah,  come  here  !  Come  here,  I  say  !  Do  you 
know  where  we  are  ?  We  are  jammed  in  a  stream 
of  Hindu  women  going  by  boat  to  the  temple  of 
Mahadeo.  It  is  the  night  of  the  Festival  of  Spring." 

Old  Amah  stirred  herself.  Here  was  something 
unexpected,  and  quite  out  of  her  ordinary  mental 
horizon. 


THE  GEOVES  OF  ASHTAROTH    223 

"  The  Lady  Miriam  ought  not  to  be  here." 

"  The  Lady  Miriam  knows  that  quite  well.  The  L&dy 
Miriam  also  wants  to  see  something  of  the  crowd.  Did 
you  ever  go,  Amah  ?  " 

Now,  once,  many  years  ago,  Amah  had  been  slave 
to  a  wealthy  Hindu's  wife.  Amah  had  gone  with  her 
mistress. 

"  The  Lady  Miriam  must  not  go,  His  Excellency 
would  never  forgive  her.  It  is  no  place  for  a  Mussul- 
mani." 

"  I  know  that,  Amah,  but  here  we  are  and  we  cannot 
help  seeing  something  of  it."  Miriam  turned  to 
Kashmiru.  "  Send  a  man  to  the  palace  to  see  if  we 
are  missed,  and  if  so,  to  say  that  we  are  kept  back 
by  the  crowd  of  boats.  If  we  are  not  missed,  he  had 
better  say  nothing." 

Kashmiru  did  as  he  was  bid,  and  the  boat  paddled 
on  with  the  crowd.  From  behind  came  up  a  long  gaily- 
lit  boat,  the  rowers  singing  merrily.  To  avoid  them 
Kashmiru  turned  his  steering  paddle  inwards  just 
as  they  were  alongside  a  row  of  sunken  stakes,  whence 
the  recent  floods  had  carried  away  a  pier.  Eip  r-r-rip 
went  the  side  planking  below  the  water,  and  Miriam's 
boat  filled  with  water.  Just  as  she  had  realized  what 
had  happened,  the  shining  boat,  with  the  singing 
crew  drew  alongside,  and  a  silver  voice  said,  "  Jump 
in  here,  lady,  quick,  or  you'll  be  in  the  water.  Steady, 
Muhamdu,  don't  you  see  that  the  Begum's  boat  is 
sinking.  Steady  !  " 

Muhamdu  shouted  to  his  crew,  who  backwatered, 
while  the  lady  of  the  boat  dragged  Miriam  over  her 
gunwale,  and  after  her  poor  dripping  old  Amah. 

Kashmiru  swore  again,  and  his  crew  dragged  the 
half  sunken  boat  to  the  bank.  Miriam  called  to  him. 

"  Come  with  me,  Kashmiru,  with  two  rowers ;  tho 
remainder  stay  on  the  bank  by  our  boat." 


224  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Muharndu,  the  head  mhanji  of  the  new-comers' 
boat,  turned  her  stern  to  the  shore  to  allow  Miriam's 
men  to  come  aboard,  which  they  did,  carrying  their 
paddles,  while  Miriam,  whose  toes  only  had  got  wet, 
entered  the  curtained  awning  in  which  sat  the  owner 
who  had  come  to  her  assistance,  and  had  also  been  the 
cause  of  the  accident.  Miriam  expected  to  see  the 
wife  of  some  rich  Hindu  merchant  or  Brahmin  pundit 
of  the  city  going  to  the  festival,  a  mirror  of  decorum 
save  on  an  occasion  of  license  such  as  she  understood 
this  to  be.  Through  the  waving  curtains,  however, 
the  light  from  the  chirags  flickering  on  the  gunwales 
by  the  prow,  shone  on  a  figure  clothed  more  glitteringly 
than  a  Hindu  matron.  The  same  light  showed  to  the 
owner  of  the  silver  voice,  the  look  of  some  surprise, 
or  rather  the  turn  of  the  half-veiled  head,  and  said — 

"  Whom  have  I  had  the  pleasure  of  assisting  ?  " 

"  I  am  a  lady  from  the  Shergarhi,  of  an  officer's 
family,  and  you  ?  " 

"  I,  Lady,  am  Azizun  the  dancer  .  .  .  are  you 
ashamed  to  be  assisted  by  me  ?  " 

Miriam  was  for  the  moment  taken  aback.  Not 
only  had  she  by  the  merest  chance  got  separated 
from  her  own  party,  and  become  part  of  a  procession 
of  Hindu  women  going  to  a  saturnalian  festival  that 
all  of  her  creed  abhorred,  which  all  the  same  she 
had  a  mind  to  see  the  beginning,  but  now  by  un- 
toward chance  she  was  sitting  cheek  by  jowl  with  one 
of  the  most  notorious  dancing  women  in  the  province. 
She,  like  every  one  else,  knew  Azizun  by  name,  for 
the  zenanas,  even  the  inner  seclusion,  know  all  the 
evil  gossip  of  the  outside  world,  else  would  life,  indeed, 
be  dull,  and  she  knew  also  that  the  dancer  held  high 
sway  over  the  Lord  Altamish.  Further,  she  had 
never  inquired,  and  had  no  desire  to  know.  Therefore, 
it  was  not  surprising  that  she  should  show  perturbation 


THE  GROVES  OF  ASHTAEOTH    225 

at  the  strange  company  in  which  chance  had  thrown 
her. 

Then  Azizun  did  a  wise  thing.  All  the  devil  in 
her  prompted  jest  and  jibe  and  a  high  horse,  which 
would  have  made  Miriam  summon  Kashmiru  and 
insist  on  landing  on  the  mud  bank.  She  refrained, 
and  a  softer  strain  took  possession  of  the  hour.  She 
laid  her  richly  ringed  hand  on  Miriam's  arm,  and  said 
with  a  hint  of  falter  in  her  voice — 

"  Turn  not  from  me,  Lady ;  I  am  what  fate  has  made 
me.  I  rule  princes,  but  am  outcaste,  yet  was  not 
born  so." 

Miriam  knew  well  that  ninety  per  cent,  of  the 
dancer  grade  have  been  born  of  a  long  line  of  matri- 
archal forebears  of  the  same  trade,  but  here  was  a 
hint  of  tragedy. 

"  Tell  me  your  story,  Azizun.  But  stop,  where  are 
we  ?  How  can  I  get  a  boat  ?  " 

"  Lady,  I  am  going  to  the  great  festival  of  Mahadeo, 
not  to  pray,  for  I  have  no  right,  and  am  Mussulmani 
born  ;  I  go  to  see  the  tamasha*  You  can't  get  a  boat. 
It  will  take  us  more  than  half  an  hour  to  get  to  the 
sunken  temple  in  this  press.  I  can  send  you  back 
in  this  boat  either  to  the  Shergarhi  or  till  you  can 
find  another.  After  the  women  have  all  arrived  at 
the  temple  the  canal  will  be  clear." 

"  I  must  avail  myself  of  your  offer,  unless  Kashmiru 
can  find  a  boat  at  the  temple  stairs.  Tell  me,  then,  while 
we  wait,  your  story.  You  say  you  are  a  Mussulmani." 

"  Aye,  and  Kashmiri,  too.  Well  I  remember  my 
father's  hut  on  the  hillside  above  the  Sinde,  and  the 
long-haired  goats  with  the  big  horns  that  I  used  to 
watch,  while  my  mother  would  plait  my  hair.  In 
the  summer  we  took  our  flocks  up  to  Sonamarg,  and 
I  played  with  my  brothers  and  the  goats  in  the  beautiful 
*  Show. 

Q 


226          A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

marg  *  covered  in  flowers.    Often,  often  I  try  and 
remember  more." 

The  break  in  Azizun's  voice  increased,  and  Miriam 
grew  interested. 

"  What  happened  then  to  take  you  away  ?  " 
"  One  day  in  early  autumn  there  came  by  some 
Afghan  slave  merchants  ;  we  were  all  alone  in  the 
hillside,  and  they  carried  me  off,  and  one  of  rny  brothers 
too.  My  father  did  not  know  and  could  not  have 
helped  if  he  had.  I  hardly  remember  what  happened, 
but  I  only  know  that  I  was  brought  with  other  children, 
mostly  girls,  from  the  Siah  Posh  Kafirs  to  Istaliff, 
and  kept  there.  I  can  remember  playing  with  other 
children  and  being  not  unkindly  treated,  till  one  day 
we  were  taken  to  the  Kabul  slave  market  and  sold. 
An  old  Kazilbash  bought  me,  and  I  grew  up  a  maid 
in  his  household  in  Ghuzni.  I  was  taught  to  sing  and 
dance,  and  my  master  took  a  great  fancy  to  me.  I 
was  given  the  best  apartments,  and  all  the  women 
hated  me.  But  what  cared  I  for  such  a  life,  with 
an  old  white-bearded  man !  He  had  a  son  who  was  a 
captain  of  horse  in  the  Emperor's  service.  I  saw  him 
first  one  day  in  our  walled  garden,  and  we  had  many 
meetings.  I  cared  not  for  him,  but  anywhere  to 
get  out  from  such  a  cage — I,  a  Kashmiri  girl  of  the 
hills  !  He  was  going  south  to  the  Punjab,  and  asked 
me  to  go  with  him,  and  climbing  the  fig-tree  by  the 
river  wall  at  the  end  of  my  master's  house,  he  lifted 
me  with  ropes  over  the  wall,  delighted  at  stealing  his 
father's  best  slave.  We  rode  south  together,  but  he 
was  killed  at  Lahore,  and  I  was  sold  again,  to  find 
myself  in  the  slave  harem  of  a  Mogul  noble  at  Delhi. 
Him  I  hated  too,  though  I  became  his  favourite  dancer, 
and  even  danced  for  the  Emperor  to  see.  That  was 
before  they  blinded  him.'* 

*  Meadow. 


THE  GROVES  OF  ASHTAROTH    227 

By  this  time  Miriam  was  watching  the  narrator 
with  intense  interest.  She  knew  enough  of  life  in 
the  North  to  know  how  true  the  story  might  well  be; 
and  Amah  had  told  her  many  a  similar  tale,  but  here 
before  her  was  an  actual  victim  of  the  lawless  life  of 
Central  Asia. 

"  I  now  rule  a  Toork  noble  as  I  ruled  that  Mogul 
and  the  old  Kuzilbash,  but  only  once  have  I  loved  a 
man,  Lady.  He  was  a  Frank  " — at  which  Miriam's 
attention  deepened.  "  He  came  I  know  not  whence, 
to  the  court  at  Delhi,  and  I  danced  before  him.  That 
night  I  know  not  how,  but  these  Franks  are  daring, 
an  old  woman  brought  a  message  that  if  I  would  come 
with  him  he  would  get  me  away.  I  sent  word  to  say 
that  I  hated  my  present  master,  and  all  about  him 
and  would  come  at  once.  That  very  morning,  by 
means  I  have  never  yet  understood,  the  Keeper  of  the 
Zenana  came  to  me  and  touched  me  while  I  slept. 
I  expected  a  summons  to  await  on  my  lord,  with  my 
zithar,  but  was  surprised  to  follow  the  passage  to 
the  main  gate  that  I  had  not  seen  for  two  years.  The 
gate  opened,  and  a  bullock  cart  with  curtains  was 
outside.  I  found  myself  driven  out  into  the  country, 
the  open  country  that  I  used  to  love,  and  eventually 
came  to  some  tents  in  a  palm  grove.  I  was  led  in  to 
find  the  young  Frank  I  had  seen  at  the  nautch.  He 
asked  if  I  was  ready  to  follow  him,  and  if  so  could  I 
sit  a  horse  at  once,  as  they  must  be  fifty  miles  away 
from  Delhi  by  nightfall.  I  would  go  anywhere  or 
do  anything  to  live  in  the  open,  and  away  we  rode 
in  an  hour's  time,  with  his  fifty  troopers  behind  him, 
to  seek  service  of  Scindiah.  We  had  a  happy  year 
together,  and  then,  alas,  he  was  killed  in  a  fight  with 
the  Moguls.  Dying  in  his  own  camp  he  gave  me  all 
he  had,  and  I  took  to  being  a  dancer  on  my  own  account, 
training  others  likewise.  Now  you  see  me  here, 


228  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

mistress  of  a  Toork  noble,  for  want  of  some  one  better  : 
spurn  me  if  you  like.  You  know  the  sort  of  life  I 
lead,  and  how  I  once  minded  goats  in  a  Kashmir 
valley." 

There  were  tears  in  the  dancing  girl's  eyes  at  the  end 
of  the  brief  outline  of  her  story.  It  was  probably 
true,  and  Miriam  knew  by  repute  of  how  the  Afghan 
and  Uzbeg  slave-dealers  raided  and  stole  far  and  wide, 
and  how  the  Mussalmani  dancer  and  courtesan  was 
often  the  victim  of  such.  A  girl  from  the  hills  of 
Kashmir  ever  fetched  a  high  price  in  the  markets  of 
the  East.  The  lass  who  '  minded  goats  upon  a  hill, 
sing  hey,  sing  ho,  a  grassy  hill,'  might  rise  to  heights 
of  infamy  or  even  heights  of  honour  through  the 
medium  of  the  slave-dealer's  yard.  Poor  Azizun 
had  come  to  power  and  infamy  instead  of  power  and 
honour,  and  indeed  it  was  the  more  likely  fate.  The 
girl  from  the  hillside  whose  '  hair  was  black  and  bright 
and  wild,  sing  hey,  sing  ho,  so  bright  and  wild,'  ought 
to  have  been  left  to  live  her  contented  life  there,  and 
not  taught  with  bitter  teaching  to  prey  on  men. 
Miriam  wondered  if  girls  were  sold  as  slaves  in  the 
English  provinces,  and  who  the  young  Prank  was  that 
had  carried  off  Azizun,  then  turning  swiftly  to  the 
dancer  as  a  wave  of  sympathy  welled  up  within  her — 

"  I  believe  it  all,  Azizun,  and,  indeed,  you  have  had 
a  sad  hard  life.  I  will  never  turn  from  you,  at  least 
in  my  thoughts,  for  we  shall  not  meet  again." 

"  Ah,  Lady,"  returned  poor  Azizun,  still  in  her  soft 
mood,  "it  is  seldom  enough  that  such  as  I  get  a  kind 
word  or  a  kind  thought ;  we  fight  for  our  own  hand, 
and  men  and  women  are  against  us." 

And  the  two  sat  awhile  in  silence  while  the  rowers 
paddled  on. 

"  Allah  pdhunchdega  t  Khiida  ka  marzi  I  Allah 
Pdhinichdega  I  Khuda  ka  marzi  1 " 


THE  GEOVES  OF  ASHTAEOTH    229 

While  they  sat  Miriam  was  turning  over  in  her  mind 
the  story  she  had  just  heard,  and  wondering  all  the 
time  how  she  could  best  get  back  to  the  palace. 

Outside,  Kashmiru  and  Muhamdu  were  carrying 
on  a  low-voiced  discussion.  Kashmiru  soon  dis- 
covered who  the  inmate  of  the  curtained  awning  was, 
and  began  by  expressing  his  disgust.  Muhamdu,  how- 
ever, was  able  to  remind  him  of  the  time  when  he, 
too,  was  head  nihanji  to  a  lady  of  the  same  persuasion, 
and  Kashmiru  changed  his  tone.  What  the  Governor 
was  likely  to  say  or  do  if  he  knew  what  had  happened 
was  a  much  more  important  matter,  with  which 
Muhamdu  could  frankly  sympathize.  Looked  at 
from  an  orthodox  point  of  view,  it  was  a  mess,  and 
the  best  solution  that  the  latter  could  see  was  that 
when  Azizun  landed,  Muhamdu  and  his  crew  should 
row  Miriam  back,  and  merely  appear  as  the  crew 
and  boat  that  had  been  able  to  assist  the  palace  lady. 

Azizun  was  not  the  woman  to  remain  in  silence, 
and  soon  recovered  from  her  unwonted  sadness  and 
the  effects  of  her  recital  of  her  story. 

"  The  Lady  is  going  to  the  festival." 

"  Certainly  not,  Azizun  ;  I  must  get  back  to  the 
palace." 

"  It  will  be  some  time  after  we  get  to  the  temple 
ghaut  before  the  canal  will  be  clear.  If  you  will  trust 
me  I  will  show  you  the  idol  worshippers  at  their 
opening  ceremonies." 

"  It  is  no  fit  place  for  a  Mussalmani." 

"  It  is  not,  except  as  a  spectator  of  other  folks'  evil. 
If  you  come  with  me  I  will  take  care  that  you  only  see 
that  which  is  fitting.  Azizun  knows  it  all,  but  will 
not  take  the  lady  of  the  palace.  It  is  not  fit  for  her." 

For  the  moment  Miriam  bridled  at  the  suggestion 
of  patronage,  implied,  but  quickly  saw  that  it  was 
far  preferable  to  an  assumption  that  she  might  fitly 


230 

be  present.  Then  the  excitement  of  the  occasion  was 
considerable.  By  a  stream  of  favouring  chances  she 
was  in  a  position  to  view  in  the  hands  of  a  competent 
guide  one  of  the  forbidden  sights.  The  spirit  of 
adventure  stirred  within  her.  Already  that  night  a 
new  world  had  opened.  She  would  also  explore  for  a 
while  another  side  passage. 

"  I  will  come,  Azizun,  with  you  for  a  while,  if  you 
promise  to  help  me  away,  when  I  want  to  leave.  It 
is  not  meet  that  I  should  see  any  of  those  doings  that 
are  said  to  take  place  as  the  festival  proceeds." 

"  Lady,  I  will  see  that  you  do  not.  We  will  see  the 
women  pray  in  the  outer  temples  of  Mahadeo,  the 
women  who  want  big,  strong  sons,  and  fear  they  will 
have  daughters  to  dower ;  the  women  who  have  no 
sons  to  take  their  husband's  ashes  to  the  Holy  Ganges, 
and  close  their  dying  lips." 

The  worship  of  Hinduism  in  its  popular  and  unphilo- 
sophical  forms,  takes  chiefly  the  shape  of  worship  of 
that  great  creative  force  of  nature,  the  great  spring 
of  the  world,  the  flocks  in  their  abundance,  the  fields 
in  their  fertility,  the  trees  in  all  their  blossom,  so 
fully  amplified  in  early  Kashmir,  the  whole  world 
obeying  the  great  injunction  of  nature  to  be  fruitful 
and  multiply.  To  the  simple  world  and  the  simple 
mind  of  a  Hindu  people,  ever  present  is  the  tragedy 
of  the  barren  woman  and  the  unwanted  wife.  So 
once  a  year  do  Hindu  women  proceed,  as  did  those 
of  Egypt  and  the  stately  Roman  matron,  to  worship 
and  to  fall  before  the  emblems  of  the  forces  of  nature. 
Then,  since  human  folk  have  strong  and  wild  passions 
when  civilization  fails  them,  there  come  strange  tales 
of  frenzy  from  the  inner  scenes  of  the  women's  festivals, 
to  which  no  male  save  the  officiating  priests  may  be 
present.  Shorn  of  its  animal  side  it  is  but  the  worship 
of  eternity  and  of  "  Death  trod  under  a  fair  girl's  feet," 


THE  GROVES  OF  ASHTAEOTH    231 

So  towards  the  sunken  temple  of  Mahadeo,  that 
for  half  the  year  and  more  lies  deserted,  sped  the  boats, 
and  with  them  Miriam  the  maiden  and  Azizun  the 
courtesan.  The  boats  jammed  at  the  temple  ghat 
and  the  torches  flickered  and  the  chirags  leapt,  as 
laughing,  chattering  women  bundled  out  of  their 
curtained  boats  and  scurried  from  among  the  crowd 
of  boatmen  to  the  seclusion  of  the  awning  alley,  which 
ran  through  the  arch  of  carved  grey  stone.  Away  in 
the  depths  of  a  grove  of  trees  temple  bells  were  clanging, 
and  conches  brayed  to  the  blowing  of  some  stout- 
lunged  priest.  The  crowd  of  hurrying  women  carried 
Miriam  and  Azizun  along,  the  former  clutching  at 
the  dancer's  arm.  They  soon  found  themselves  jammed 
within  the  dark,  cool  entrance  of  a  low  vaulted  stone 
temple.  The  damp  on  the  stones  shone  with  the  flicker 
of  the  chirags,  and  the  air  was  heavy  with  scent  of 
marigold  and  white  chdmpdk  and  the  sickly  aroma 
of  the  burning  incense.  Through  the  darkness  and 
gloom  that  the  lights  only  heightened,  loomed  tho 
great  figure  of  '  the  God  of  the  sensuous  fire,'  and 
around  a  flicker  from  a  lamp  would  show  the  weird, 
unholy  carvings,  the  '  symbols  of  death  and  of  man's 
desire,'  the  organs  of  birth  and  the  circlets  of  bones; 
while  Miriam  of  the  clean  creed  of  Islam  shuddered 
and  gripped  her  guide  tighter. 

Bound  the  figure  of  the  god,  faint  in  the  gloom, 
bowed  and  bent  the  figures  of  kneeling  women, 
swaying  to  the  deep,  low  chant  that  came  from  none 
knew  whence.  It  rose  and  fell  and  swelled  again; 
till  the  swaying  forms  murmured  responses  or  the 
sharp  cry  of  some  woman,  uplifted  with  hysterical 
emotion,  broke  in  on  the  cadence.  Behind  the  giant 
figure  in  the  depths  of  shadow,  amid  the  loose  loves 
carved  on  the  temple  stones,  the  inner  recesses  stretched 
away  in  blackness  unlit  by  the  fitful  flames.  In  vain 


282  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

Miriam's  eyes  and  thoughts  tried  to  penetrate  the 
imagined  mysteries  beyond.  The  volume  of  the  chant 
gained  intensity,  and  the  joint  will  of  the  multitude 
was  asserting  itself  till  the  suggestion  of  savage, 
primitive  instinct  became  all-pervading.  The  heavy, 
scented  atmosphere  vibrated  with  the  will  and  desires 
of  the  many. 

"  Take  me  away,  Azizun  !  Take  me  out  of  this  !  " 
gasped  Miriam,  and  she  felt  herself  drawn  down  some 
side  cloister  away  from  the  obsession  of  the  untamed 
spirit  of  female  force.  A  cool,  soft  breeze  struck  her 
heated  cheek,  and  the  whispered  sound  of  the  west 
wind's  breath  sighed  through  the  cloister.  The  temple 
chanting  sounded  afar  off,  and  a  soft  light  shone  before 
them.  A  mild,  clear  voice  spoke. 

"  What  seek  my  sisters  in  the  cloistered  cell  ?  " 

Azizun  whispered,  "  'Tis  the  ascetic  swami  of  the 
garden  shrine.  He  has  been  hi  the  garden,  men  say, 
for  fifty  years  and  more.  Answer  him.  Answer  him. 
Say  we  seek  escape  from  the  crowd  within.  Nay  ! 
Stay  !  They  say  he  is  a  seer.  Ask  what  the  future 
may  have  in  store." 

"  We  seek  to  escape  from  the  crowd  and  heat  of 
the  temple." 

"  Rest  awhile,  my  sisters,  surely  it  is  well  to  rest; 
and  to  leave  the  whirl  of  human  life.  Seek  ye  peace 
on  the  road  untold  ?  'Tis  hard  to  come  by.  You 
do  well  to  break  away  from  the  ignorant  crowds 
within." 

"  Can  we  get  out  ?    We  are  not  shut  in  ?  " 

"  Surely  ye  can  get  out.  Shall  I  lead  you  to  the 
water's  edge  ?  " 

"  We  crave  leave  to  rest,  but  are  afraid  of  the  noise 
and  heat  of  the  temple." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  fear  here.  It  is  but  the  thought 
and  knowledge  of  man  and  woman  that  you  heard. 


233 

Do  you  fear  the  secret  tale  of  the  emblems  ?  Do 
you  seek  God's  purpose  or  trace  His  plans  ?  " 

"  We  would  know  something  of  our  life  to  come." 

"  Ah  !  that  is  ever  man's  desire,  and  little  may  be 
revealed.  Each  age  is  a  dream  that  is  passing,  and 
sufficient  unto  the  hour  are  the  happenings  thereof. 
What  lies  in  your  own  minds,  or  in  the  minds  of  others 
regarding  yourselves,  that,  perhaps,  I  can  help  you 
realize.  Come  with  me  !  " 

The  swami  led  the  two  out  through  a  side  porch  into 
an  open  court,  where  the  sounds  from  the  temple  did 
not  reach  and  the  babel  of  the  rowers  without  came 
but  faint  on  the  night  air.  Straight  overhead  Orion 
shone  clear  and  Auriga  twinkled  across  to  Gemini, 
while  the  world  slept  to  the  wind's  crooning.  The  sweet 
smell  of  white  rose  and  narcissus  softened  the  air,  and 
the  west  wind  whispered  again.  Before  a  small  shrine 
the  swami  stopped  and  bade  them  enter,  and  then  it 
was  that  Miriam  recognized  the  memory  that  had  been 
haunting  her  these  ten  minutes  past.  The  voice  was  as 
the  voice  of  Jean  Armande  du  Plessis.  Soft  and  kind 
and  dead  to  the  world,  with  ever  the  trend  to  things 
of  the  spirit,  the  voices  of  men  at  peace. 

Once  again  they  found  themselves  before  a  Hindu 
god,  but  this  time  their  gaze  fell,  not  on  the  horrors 
of  creation  incarnate,  but  on  the  stately  brow  and 
folded  hands  of  Indra.  A  very  different  lesson 
emanated  from  the  black  marble  presentment  .  .  . 
peace  in  the  uttermost  borders  and  strength  on  a  road 
untold.  A  small  fire  burned  before  the  deity. 

"  Sister,  here  before  the  mighty  Indra  I  will  unfold 
something  of  a  Brahmin's  knowledge.  Look  now 
into  the  fire.  That  which  you  may  see  is  for  your 
own  information  or  for  ours  as  well,  as  your  heart 
may  choose.  Now  look  !  " 

Miriam  gazed  into  the  fire,  which  slowly  seemed  to 


234  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

rise  and  spread  to  a  sheet  of  blue  flame,  clear  and 
steady  as  a  mirror.  And  in  this  mirror  Miriam  saw 
David  EVaser,  not  as  she  had  known  him  that  evening , 
she  had  yet  no  time  to  ponder  on  the  day's  happenings  ; 
but  as  she  loved  to  think  of  him,  the  day  he  rode  through 
the  city,  at  the  head  of  his  procession,  for  all  the  world 
to  see,  She  remained  silent  and  the  swami  spoke 
again. 

"  You  have  seen  that  which  your  own  thoughts 
frame.  Now  look  again." 

And  there  came  another  vision.  This  time  in  a 
garden  by  the  shores  of  a  lake  a  figure  of  an  Afghan 
paced  up  and  down.  His  face  was  gnarled  and  scared, 
and  the  beetling  brows  were  knit  in  thought. 

"  Azizun  !  Azizun  !  I  see  the  Afghan  who  was  with 
the  Lord  Altamish  that  day  we  rode  through  the  city 
from  the  Hari  Par  bat.  I  know  him  by  the  cleft  in 
his  forehead,  He  walks  in  a  garden  by  the  lake 
shore." 

"  You  have  seen,  sister,  some  one  whose  thoughts 
are  bent  on  you." 

Miriam  gripped  Azizun's  arm  again  in  sudden  fear. 
Why  should  she  see  in  the  flames  this  strange,  fierco 
man? 

"  Who  is  he,  Azizun  ?    Why  does  he  think  of  me  ?  " 

"  It  must  be  the  Afghan  Sirdar  Daoud  Shah ;  but 
why  he  should  think  of  you  I  know  not,  But  stay  ! 
Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  I  am  Miriam,  the  sister  of  His  Excellency  Salabat 
Khan." 

And  then  Azizun  cried  aloud,  "  Why,  oh  why  did  I 
bring  you  here  ?  I  must  take  you  home :  come  away. 
Oh,  sir  !  show  us  the  shore  and  help  us  find  our  boat." 

"  Sisters,  be  not  troubled.  You  see  but  the  thoughts 
of  men,  or  your  own  free  thoughts ;  but,  come,  I  will 
show  you  the  shore.  Forget  if  the  phantoms  have 


235 

prophesied  woe.  Here  in  this  garden  none  may  molest 
you.  Come  again  when  you  seek  peace  and  rest." 

And  he  led  them  by  courts  and  plinths  to  the  water- 
side. Azizunran  towards  the  boats,  calling  Muhamdu, 
to  find  happily  that  her  boat  had  pushed  out  clear 
of  the  crowd  and  was  tethered  near  by,  the  water 
muttering  under  the  prow  and  the  rowers  asleep  on 
the  bank.  The  frightened  Miriam  hurried  after  her, 
forgetting  to  bid  the  swami  farewell  as  he  stood,  tall 
and  thin  and  serene,  his  faded  eyes  watching  and 
wondering  as  she  sped. 

"  Put  out  all  the  lights,  Muhamdu,  and  pull  for 
the  Shergarhi.  Is  the  Lady  Miriam's  head  mhanji 
there  ?  " 

Kashmiru's  deep  voice  attested  his  presence,  and 
Miriam  heard  the  note  of  relief  in  it. 

In  silence  and  darkness  they  paddled  past  the  jam 
of  boats  at  the  ghat  of  the  sunken  temple  down  the 
now  empty  canal  and  out  again  into  the  open  Jhelum, 
to  find  at  last  the  palace  steps  silent  and  deserted  and 
Miriam's  own  mhanji  awaiting  them. 

"  Huzoor !  His  Excellency  was  delayed  at  a  fire 
in  the  city,  and  coming  home  late  thought  you  had 
arrived  and  gone  in.  I  told  him  all  was  well." 

Silently  Miriam  stepped  out  of  the  boat,  and  turning 
to  Azizun  whispered — 

"  All  is  well,  and  I  thank  you  for  your  care.  It  was 
all  my  doing  that  I  went  to  the  temple,  and  you  brought 
me  out  safely." 

"  Good-night,  Lady,  and  remember  that  if  Miriam, 
the  Governor's  sister,  ever  wants  aid  from  the  broken 
cowrie  of  seven  markets,  from  Azizun  the  dancer,  she 
has  but  to  send  for  it." 

Up  the  steps  and  past  the  drowsy  sentry,  too 
sleepy  even  to  wonder  why  ladies  roamed  so  late, 
Miriam  sped  to  her  own  apartments. 


CHAPTEE  XXII 

TROUBLE   ON   THE    BORDER 

WHEN  Daoud  Shah  meant  mischief  in  Upper  India, 
mischief  there  usually  was.  Hill  tribes  are  queer  rest- 
less things,  chiefly  because  hills  breed  many  and  feed 
few.  They,  or  at  any  rate  their  young  men,  are  ever 
ready  to  listen  to  any  suggestion  for  inroad  and  raid 
on  their  neighbours.  When  that  suggestion  comes 
from  so  expert  a  stirrer  of  men  as  our  wandering  Afghan 
of  the  Beni-Israel  and  his  chosen  assistants,  there  was 
nothing  to  be  expected  but  trouble  prompt  and  wide- 
spread. To  each  and  all  of  the  tribes  Daoud  Shah  had 
sent  the  message  most  likely  to  disturb  them.  To  the 
Black  Mountain  he  had  sent  word  of  intended  foreign 
colonies  in  Hazara.  To  the  Sayads  of  Khagan  he 
wrote  of  their  alleged  claim  to  the  Lolab  valley,  and 
the  views  of  the  Toork  faction  on  that  same  subject, 
and  how  the  Lord  Altamish  intended  that  they  should 
have  the  land.  To  Tangir  and  Darel  away  in  the 
Trans-Indus  Kohistan,  he  sent  word  that  the  Afghan 
governor  was  about  to  invade  Tangir,  and  levy  the  old 
forgotten  tribute  of  maidens. 

Then  to  the  Black  Mountain  tribes  of  the  Sons  of 
Joseph,  he  betook  himself  in  person,  close  on  the  heels 
of  his  messengers,  and  arrived  in  time  to  find  the  full 
tribal  jirgahs  sitting  in  full-thing  on  his  first  message. 

236 


TEOUBLE  ON  THE  BOEDER  237 

Now  a  full  jirgah  of  a  large  tribe  is  very  important  and 
not  unlike  the  old  Full-Thing  of  the  Anglo-Saxons. 
Each  of  the  clans  and  sub-clans  had  sent  their  repre- 
sentatives with  a  goodly  following,  so  that  when  the 
jirgah  itself  sits,  it  is  surrounded  at  a  respectful  distance 
with  a  ring  of  clansmen,  every  one  armed  to  the  teeth 
partly  out  of  respect  to  the  meeting,  but  chiefly  in  case 
of  accidents.  Accidents  often  happen.  The  clans  and 
sub-clans  have  quarrels,  and  these  are  often  fought  out 
on  the  way  to  and  from  the  gathering.  It  is  not 
unknown  in  the  case  of  heated  arguments  for  a  member 
to  fire  his  bell- mouthed  pistol  into  his  neighbour's  side. 

Outside  the  great  ring  in  which  the  elders  and 
representatives  sit,  the  tribal  musicians  will  be  in 
attendance,  their  doles  throbbing  to  the  pulse  of  the 
meeting. 

Right  into  the  midst  of  this  one  morning  in  early 
June  then,  rode  Daoud  Shah  himself,  attended  by  two 
of  his  following,  and  dismounting  outside  the  ring 
strode  into  the  centre  and  called  out  the  peace  greeting, 
"  Salaam  Alek,"  to  which  came  back  the  answer, 
"  Alekum  Salaam."  The  mass  of  the  jirgah  sat  in  some 
astonishment.  Who  was  the  assured  stranger  who 
thus  strode  into  their  meeting  ?  It  was  a  striking 
scene.  The  elders  sat  on  a  grassy  knoll  outside  a 
village,  with  an  outer  circle  of  clansmen.  The  tall 
loopholed  mud  towers  of  the  village  were  covered  with 
women  and  children  looking  down  on  the  gathering. 
Slightly  below  the  village  lay  a  level  piece  of  cultivated 
ground,  in  which  the  young  maize  and  buckwheat 
showed  a  vivid  green.  Walnut,  almond  and  peach 
trees  flourished  dotted  among  the  fields,  with  here  and 
there  an  outlying  homestead,  each  with  its  mud  tower 
also.  The  said  towers  had  solid  mud  and  stone  bases 
that  could  not  be  undermined,  and  the  only  access  to 
an  elevated  doorway  was  by  ladder,  so  that  once  inside 


238          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

the  enemy  could  be  defied.  Round  the  little  valley 
rose  the  rugged  hills  now  covered  with  violet  and  tulip 
and  the  Prophet's  flower.  Above  them  rose  the 
slopes  of  the  higher  mountains  where  blue  pine  and 
deodar  and  silver  birch  stretched  to  the  snow  line. 
A  few  stacks  of  the  dried  stalks  of  last  year's  maize 
remaining  from  the  cattle's  winter  store  added  another 
colour  to  the  picture,  and  the  ensemble  was  a  well- 
enough  setting  to  an  embryo  parliament.  Unfortu- 
nately, that  parliament,  despite  the  beauty  of  its  setting, 
was  discussing  war  and  the  making  of  war  for  the  mere 
fun  and  lust  of  it.  Here  and  there  an  elder  had  pro- 
tested, but  the  spirit  of  the  tribe  was  evidently  in 
favour  of  it.  The  crops  promised  well  and  could  be 
left  to  themselves  and  the  women.  There  was  plenty 
of  ammunition  in  hand  from  the  last  war.  Neighbours 
in  the  Trans-Indus  were  friendly,  and  all  seemed 
propitious  for  a  jaunt  over  into  the  Kashmir  domain. 

Matters  were  at  this  stage  when  Daoud  Shah 
himself  put  in  an  appearance,  with  the  greeting  of 
peace,  and  the  jirgah  demanded  who  the  new-comer 
might  be.  Three  of  the  elders  at  once  rose.  Daoud 
Shah  could  be  no  stranger  to  those  who  had  seen  a 
generation  of  the  Great  Anarchy.  He  had  been  mixed 
up  in  too  many  rebellious  risings  and  invasions  for  that. 
One  of  the  elders  extended  the  hands  of  greeting  to  the 
Afghan.  He  had  been  to  Kabul  and  to  Lahore,  and 
had  ridden  in  the  Afghan  ranks  to  Agra.  He  and  the 
others  well  knew  the  power  and  reach  and  uncanny 
influence  that  the  man  had  so  long  wielded,  and 
hastened  to  receive  him  suitably.  The  subject  then 
before  the  jirgah  was  explained  to  him,  and  he  was 
asked  to  seat  himself.  He  remained  for  a  while  a 
listener,  but  before  long  an  opportunity  offered  itself, 
and  he  sprang  to  his  feet  to  urge  on  them  the  wisdom 
and  advisability  of  an  incursion  into  the  Lolab. 


TEOUBLE  ON  THE  BOEDER  239 

"  The  beautiful  valley  of  Kashmir  which  your 
fathers  used  to  share  is  yours  by  right.  The  province 
is  groaning  under  a  Kabuli  government.  Will  you 
stand  idle  in  your  bare  valleys  when  you  can  have  milk 
and  honey  for  the  asking  ?  Come  and  take  tribute  of 
Kashmir,  free  tribes,  men  of  the  Black  Mountain, 
jowans  *  of  the  Kala  Taka.  Help  us  eject  these 
tyrants  from  Kabul  and  take  your  reward.  Or  if  you 
prefer  it,  go  raid  and  disturb  the  near  valleys  for  your 
own  hand.  Men  say  in  the  bazaars  of  Srinagar  that 
this  precious  Governor  is  going  to  levy  a  tribute  of 
maids  from  you,  as  Imam-ud-Deen  did  fifty  years  ago  ! 
There  are  greybeards  here  who  remember  that." 

And  here  the  jirgah  groaned  and  their  arms  clashed. 
"  Come  with  me,  sirdars  and  clansmen  of  the  Black 
Mountain.  Send  your  lashkars,1[  Men  of  the  Hassan 
Khel,  Men  of  the  Achakzai,  or  shall  I  say  Women  of 
the  Achakzai  and  Hassan  Khel !  The  game  is  a  great 
one,  and  you  of  the  race  of  the  Euzufzai  can  play  it. 
Your  fathers  did.  Sirdar  Khunrez  Khan  here  did;  as 
I  have  seen  with  my  own  eyes." 

And  again  the  jirgah  clashed  and  the  young  men 
shouted.  Daoud  Shah  burst  out  into  viking  vein. 

"  Ohe  !  Wolves  of  the  Achakzai.  Ohe  !  Warriors 
of  the  Sons  of  Joseph.  Sharpen  your  stabbing  knives  ! 
Thrice  prime  your  jezails  !  Carry  off  cattle  for  your 
wives  and  silk  for  your  betrothed  !  Over  the  moun- 
tains and  down  to  the  valleys.  Eole  and  throb  the 
doles.  Skirl  the  surnai !  J  Who  speaks  of  peace  ? 
Fie  I  Fie  !  Greybeards  must  die  !  " 

And  Daoud  Shah,  the  man  of  blood  and  mystery,  sat 
down  well  pleased  with  his  day's  work,  while  the  young 
men  shouted  again.  For  the  moment  the  jirgah  broke 
up  into  groups.  It  seemed  vain  for  the  elders  to 

*  Young  men.  f  Armies.  $  A  reed  chanter. 


240          A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

counsel  moderation.  Who  cared  for  prudence  !  One 
large  knot  of  elders  talked  together,  and  with  three 
aged  white-bearded  moolahs  *  and  one  younger  one, 
with  dark  set  brows  and  thin,  tightly  closed  lip.  A 
fanatic  of  fanatics.  The  elders,  laymen,  and  priests 
argued  for  prudence.  Daoud  Shah  braced  himself  for 
another  effort. 

"  With  the  permission  of  the  honourable  jirgdh,  I 
would  speak  again." 

His  rasping  high-pitched  voice  rose  over  the  babel 
of  tongues,  and  the  groups  broke  away  to  reform  the 
great  circle. 

"  0  men  of  Islam.  Your  Moolahs  here  say  they  are 
against  war,  and  that  it  is  not  lawful  for  Islam  to  war 
with  Islam.  I  tell  you  tribesmen  and  clans,  men  of 
this  mighty  clan,  that  this  Kabuli  Governor  of  Kashmir 
and  his  followers  are  not  true  Mussalmans.  They 
oppress  the  faithful,  they  favour  the  infidel  dogs  of 
Hindu  traders,  who  batten  on  the  poor  savings  of 
the  followers  of  the  blessed  Prophet.  So  do  they 
oppress  the  faithful  that  I  swear  to  you  that  to  make 
inroad  into  their  territory  is  almost  Jihad,  a  war  of 
religion !  Glory  for  all,  and  Heaven  for  those  who 
bleed  !  Salabat  Khan  is  ra/zi,  a  heretic,  who  consorts 
with  a  Christian  padre,  and  even  worships  at  the  shrine 
of  the  Nazarene  Iswi,  near  the  mosque  of  Shah 
Hamadan.  Justice  for  the  faithful  clansmen  !  Strike 
for  the  faith  !  Din  Din  !  Fateh  Muhammad  !  (The 
Faith  !  The  Faith  !  Victory  to  Mahomed !)  " 

Then  the  fanatic-faced  priest  with  the  tight-closed 
lips  sprang  up,  and  cried — 

"  Din !  Din !  Fateh  Muhammad !  "  and  began  to 
chant  the  Kalima,  the  creed  of  Islam.  "  La  illah  ha  ! 
II  illah  ho  !  o  Muhammad  rasul  il  illafi !  "  (',<  There 

*  Priests 


TEOUBLE  ON  THE  BORDER  241 

is  no  God  but  the  one  God,  and  Mahomed  is  His 
Prophet.") 

Whereon  the  whole  jirgdh  shouted  as  one  man,  "  La 
illah  ha  !  il  illah  ho  !  La  illah  ha  !  il  illah  ho  I  "  till 
the  hillsides  re-echoed  with  the  ililillah,  and  the  chant 
changed  to  the  deeper,  "  Glory  for  all,  and  Heaven  for 
those  who  bleed."  An  old  moolah,  with  a  raw  red-dyed 
beard,  danced  out  beating  a  tomtom  with  both  hands 
till  hearts  and  minds  rang  with  fervour.  There  is  no 
roll  of  drum  like  to  the  drum  ecclesiastic. 

Then  Khunrez  Khan  malik,  as  the  shouting  died 
away,  announced  that  according  to  the  wish  of  the 
tribe  for  a  holy  war,  the  lashkars  would  assemble  at 
the  head  of  the  valley,  the  afternoon  of  the  day  after 
next,  and  every  man  was  to  bring  a  goatskin  with  five 
days'  rations  therein.  After  which,  with  one  more 
shout  of  "  Din !  Din !  "  the  jirga  melted  away. 

But  how  Daoud  Shah  managed  to  present  a  proposal 
for  a  most  unprovoked  attack  on  a  neighbour  for  pure 
love  of  rapine  and  gain,  as  an  enthusiastic  righteous 
war,  is  a  marvel  to  this  day,  only  to  be  accounted  for 
by  the  mysterious  inhuman  influence  that  the  man 
seemed  to  wield. 

After  some  further  conversation  with  Khunrez  Khan 
it  was  arranged  that  the  tribal  lashkar  should  appear 
by  the  evening  of  the  fifth  day  at  the  head  of  the  Lolab 
Valley,  and  in  the  passes  above  Gurais.  Daoud  Shah, 
then  scarcely  waiting  to  partake  of  food,  rode  away 
towards  Chilas  to  still  further  disturb  the  countryside. 
But  he  had  so  succeeded  in  imposing  his  will  on  the 
clansmen  that  the  preparations  for  the  inroad  went  on 
apace  without  him.  The  elders  still  regretted,  as 
elders  will.  To  them  war  and  rapine  had  lost  much  of 
its  savour.  Dead  men  and  burning  hayricks  were 
wasteful  features  on  a  countryside,  especially  if  it 
happened  to  be  their  own.  They  knew  well  what 

R 


242  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

retaliatory  raids  meant,  and  were  by  no  means  sure  that 
the  power  of  the  government  of  Kashmir  was  so  low 
as  had  been  represented.  But  the  young  men  ever 
jostle  the  elders,  and  Daoud  Shah  had  the  power  to 
charm.  So  war  it  was  to  be,  for  weal  or  for  woe. 

Far  below  the  Black  Mountain  in  the  Jhelum  valley, 
Altamish  and  his  myrmidons  were  seeking  to  reap 
when  the  crop  should  be  ready.  The  Toork  nobles 
sat  ready  watching  for  a  sign,  and  agents  busily 
endeavoured  to  sow  discontent  in  men's  minds  and 
especially  in  the  minds  of  any  of  Salabat  Khan's  troops. 
The  insinuator,  the  agitator,  is  always  a  danger ;  well- 
calculated  remarks  easily  produce  some  fancied 
grievance.  Some  of  Altamish's  agents  were  men  of 
acute  and  subtle  brain-power.  Mysterious  stories  were 
spreading  in  the  bazaars  of  oppressions  and  abductions, 
tales  of  children  stolen  to  sacrifice  at  the  new  cannon 
foundry,  or  in  the  foundations  of  fortresses,  and  the 
like.  The  Governor  was  contemplating  fresh  taxation. 
The  Emperor  at  Kabul  was  displeased  with  him  and 
intended  to  recall  him,  the  Frank  officers  had  insulted 
the  moolahs,  and  every  other  vain  yet  restless  tale 
seemed  rife. 

Among  the  Toork  nobles  Wali  Dad  had  been  especi- 
ally active.  The  old  feeling  was  thoroughly  stirred  and 
petitions  were  sent  to  Kabul  to  have  a  Toork  governor 
appointed,  and  each  and  all  of  the  sirdars  were  asked 
if  they  would  share  in  a  joint  enterprise  to  place 
Altamish  in  the  Governor's  chair  should  opportunity 
offer.  A  good  deal  of  which  came  round  to  Yar 
Khan's  ears,  without  his  being  able  to  locate  its  origin 
at  all  definitely,  however-so-much  he  might  suspect  it. 

The  day  after  Daoud  Shah  had  disappeared,  Altamish 
himself  decided  to  pay  a  visit  incognito,  accompanied 
only  by  Wali  Dad,  to  the  salon  of  Allah  Visayah,  and 
see  what  that  lady  might  be  able  to  tell  him  either  of 


THOUBLE  ON  THE  BORDER  243 

Palace  plans  or  the  feelings  of  the  soldiery,  in  both  of 
which  she  was  well  versed.  Duly  warned  by  Wali  Dad 
of  his  proposed  visit,  she  had  got  rid  of  her  morning 
visitors,  and  with  only  a  female  attendant  waited  his 
advent.  The  best  tobacco  and  the  best  rosewater  were 
ready  in  the  huqas,  which  stood  resplendent  in  red 
embroidered  mouthpieces  and  lacquered  metal  stands. 
Altamish  climbed  the  narrow  stairs  that  marred  the 
best  of  Indian  houses  with  some  difficulty,  and  sub- 
sided into  the  rose  silk  Bokhara  cushions  out  of  wind 
and  short  of  temper. 

However,  the  Begum  understood  the  first  essentials 
of  her  business,  and  that  was  to  induce  good  temper, 
and  the  excellent  huqa  duly  offered  soon  achieved  this. 
Altamish  sat  and  drew  at  his  mouthpiece  and  was 
mollified.  His  visit  being  one  of  inquiry,  he  was  at 
pains  to  start  various  topics  in  the  hope  of  coming  by 
way  of  chance  on  some  of  the  clues  he  searched 
for. 

"  I  hear  that  there  was  some  sort  of  a  rising  at  the 
Hari  Parbat  while  His  Excellency  was  away.  Did  you 
hear  much  of  it  in  the  city  ?  " 

"  We  heard,  my  Lord,  that  the  Kommadan  of  the 
Regiment  of  Victory  was  killed.  He  was  hung,  my 
Lord." 

"  That  was  very  sad." 

"  Very." 

This  was  not  very  promising.  Something  more 
leading  was  necessary. 

"  Why  did  they  hang  him  ?  " 

"  For  trying  to  take  possession  of  the  fort  for  some 
other  chief." 

"  What  made  him  do  it  ?  " 

"  How  should  I  know,  my  Lord? " 

"  I  should  gladly  pay  a  good  deal  to  find  out  if 
there  is  anything  of  the  kind  going  on  now." 


244          A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

"  Surely  my  Lord  should  know  better  than  any  one 
else." 

"  I,  woman  ?  I  care  little  enough  about  intrigues; 
save  that  a  wise  man  likes  to  know  the  inner  workings 
of  all  things.  I  can  make  it  worth  your  while  to  find 
out." 

"  I  can  do  a  great  deal,  as  my  Lord  knowest,  if  it  is 
worth  my  while.  It  was  not  my  fault  that  the 
Kommadan  was  hung.  He  was  a  friend  of  mine,  and 
ever  treated  me  well." 

"  I  know,  I  know.  It  was  a  great  pity,  but  many 
people  were  weary  of  Afghan  rule,  and  were  anxious 
to  rise.  He  did  but  misjudge  the  occasion.  Now  what 
I  will  make  it  worth  your  while  to  do,  is  to  find  out 
who  there  be  now  among  the  kommadans  of  the 
regiments  and  forts  who  are  weary  of  Salabat  Khan. 
That  is  information  I  really  should  pay  well  for.  I 
want  to  know  who  there  be  who  will  join  another 
rising  against  those  Afghans  ?  " 

"  I  know  three  already,  and  can  find  out  what  their 
present  ideas  are,  but  I  don't  wish  to  see  more  of  my 
friends  swinging  on  gate-tops." 

"  I  think  I  can  promise  that  that  shall  not  happen 
again.  What  I  want  is  to  get  the  fort  kommadans 
in  the  valley  to  rise  against  the  Governor  if  a  sign  be 
given." 

And  then  Allah  Visayah,  ever  eager  for  money  and 
more  money,  promised  that  she  would  do  her  best  to 
obtain  the  information  that  night,  or  by  the  next  night 
at  latest.  After  which  Altamish  pulled  at  his  huqa  in 
silence,  while  the  lady  twanged  her  zithar  softly.  To 
such  effect  did  her  promises  and  her  music  move  the 
Toork  that  a  bag  of  fifty  ashrafis  *  were  left  in  her  ample 
lap. 

*  Gold  coins. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

WAR   AND   RUMOURS    OF   WAR 

THE  tale  of  woe  from  the  border  soon  penetrated  to 
Srinagar.  Hot -foot  from  the  Lolab  came  messengers 
to  say  that  the  tribesmen  of  the  Black  Mountain  had 
marched  over  the  ^passes  into  the  head  of  the  valley, 
had  burnt  villages,  were  carrying  off  slaves,  cattle  and 
women,  and  had  in  most  cases  overcome  the  local 
khassadars  (militia).  The  few  Kabuli  settlers  had 
been  obliged  to  fall  back  and  the  Kashmiri  villagers 
were  flying  for  their  lives.  From  the  beautiful  valley 
of  Gurais  came  similar  tidings.  A  lashkar  from  Tangir 
and  Darel  and  Chilas  was  carrying  off  sheep  from  both 
valley  and  uplands,  having  marched  over  the  Burzil 
and  Kamri  passes  to  join  a  party  from  the  Black 
Mountain  who  had  come  up  the  Kishenganga.  The 
small  mud  fort  in  the  Gurais  Valley  near  Kanzilwan 
was  invested.  A  small  detachment  of  Afghan  soldiery 
reinforced  by  local  khassadars  was  holding  out  against 
a  determined  attack.  Daoud  Shah's  evil  influence 
had  spread  the  fiery  cross  against  his  fellow-countrymen 
with  a  vengeance  !  A  wind  blew  and  the  people  with 
it,  as  people  will  when  some  unknown  spirit  moves 
them. 

Salabat  Khan  was  no  loiterer.  He  could  not  have 
held  his  own  in  the  Duranni  Empire  at  the  time 
of  the  Great  Anarchy  had  he  been  otherwise.  He 

245 


246  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

first  sent  off  cossids  to  call  out  all  the  khassadars  of  the 
districts  adjoining  those  threatened.  Then  he  called 
for  his  minister  and  Major  David  Fraser,  his  new-found 
master  of  horse,  who  hurried  post-haste  to  the  Shergarhi. 
The  Governor  demanded  a  statement  of  the  strength 
and  location  of  his  forces.  Yar  Khan  produced  an 
exact  tally.  There  were  present  in  Srinagar  the 
following : — 

The  Body  Guard  Eissaldh. 

Ferassa  Sahib's  Eissaldh. 

The  Eegiment  of  Victory,  400  bayonets. 

The  Eegiment  of  Lightning,  100  bayonets. 

Artillery,  3  mountain  guns  carried  a  -  ponytop ; 
2  small  mortars,  ditto. 

Away  in  the  frontier  posts  and  forts  were  the  whole 
of  the  Lai  Kurta  *  Eegiment,  while  300  men  of  the 
Eegiment  of  Lightning  were  absent  up  the  valley, 
collecting  revenue.  One  way  and  another  perhaps  a 
thousand  hhassadars  armed  with  matchlock  and  knifo 
were  scattered  about  the  valley.  About  200  pack 
ponies  and  100  camels  would  also  be  immediately 
available.  The  Toork  nobles  and  Afghan  landowners 
should  also  be  able  to  turn  out  400  or  500  men. 

The  foregoing  was  an  accurate  resume  of  resources, 
and  Yar  Khan  argued  that  it  would  be  as  well  to  get 
the  Toork  retainers  away  with  them  rather  than  leave 
them  unwatched  in  the  country.  But  it  was  ono 
thing  to  take  stock  of  resources,  and  another  to  decide 
where  to  apply  them.  The  enemy  had  overrun  two 
different  parts.  Where  should  the  Kashmir  force 
strike  ?  The  temptation  to  separate  the  forces  was 
great ;  to  send  some  of  the  Kashmir  troops  to  the 
Lolab,  the  remainder  to  Gurais.  Against  this  Yar 
Khan  protested.  He  had  learnt  the  great  lesson  of 

*  Red  coated. 


WAR  AND  RUMOURS  OF  WAR        247 

war,  in  a  bitter  school.  That  lesson  was  as  old  as  the 
world.  It  is  to  concentrate  at  the  decisive  point.  So 
simple  to  enunciate  !  So  difficult  to  put  into  practice  ! 
Where  was  the  decisive  point  ?  A  leading  question, 
indeed,  with  an  elusive  answer.  Yar  Khan  had  one, 
however,  for  the  old  man  was  ever  strong  in  council. 
In  the  Lolab  there  was  a  strong  reliable  body  of 
khassadars  to  oppose  the  raiders,  and  whose  advance 
they  must  eventually  check.  In  Gurais,  on  the  other, 
hand,  there  were  few,  and  those  few  beleaguered. 
To  secure  Gurais  fort  and  release  the  garrison  was 
clearly  the  right  objective,  and  it  must  be  done  with 
all  the  available  force.  David  supported  Yar  Khan 
entirely.  His  own  war  experience,  both  that  of  actual 
war  as  he  had  seen  it  with  Sindiah,  and  as  he  had  learnt 
it  from  his  father's  teaching,  was  clear  enough.  Con- 
centrate at  the  decisive  point;  if  possible,  but  at  any 
rate  concentrate  to  fight.  That  had  been  the  teaching 
of  Turenne  and  the  Great  King.  To  Gurais  then !  with 
all  available  men  except  the  Lolab  khassadars  and 
one  or  two  compulsory  garrisons. 

Salabat  Khan  was  not  the  man  to  lose  time  when  his 
mind  was  made  up.  To  Gurais,  then,  to-morrow 
morning,  the  mounted  troops  by  the  lake-shore  road 
to  Bandipura,  and  the  infantry  to  the  same  place  by 
boat.  David  had  now  been  admitted  to  his  entire 
confidence,  and  it  was  a  kindly  hand  that  he  put  on 
the  lad's  shoulder,  and  said,  as  David  was  leaving  for 
his  cantonment — 

"  Now  we  shall  see  what  the  English  training  has 
done  for  these  pet  children  of  yours  !  " 

It  was  midday  ere  David  was  fairly  started  for  the 
shores  of  the  Dhall  Lake,  and  on  his  way  he  met  the 
Lady  Miriam  a-horseback,  returning  from  hawking 
quail,  a  baz  *  on  right  wrist.  Behind  her  came  Habib 

*  A  species  of  hawk. 


248  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Ullah,  who  had  been  escorting  her,  with  half  a  dozen 
retainers  and  huntsmen.  Habib  also  held  a  baz,  and 
two  of  the  men  behind  had  kashas.*  Her  ladyship  was 
lightly  veiled,  and  the  glow  and  excitement  of  the 
chase  was  still  on  her. 

David's  heart  stirred  within  him  at  meeting  his 
lady  love,  full  of  memory  of  that  never-to-be-forgotten 
evening  on  the  night  of  the  Festival  of  Spring,  when  the 
vague  feelings  that  had  so  haunted  him  since  he 
climbed  beside  Miriam  up  the  slopes  of  the  Pir  Panjal, 
had  sprung  into  their  full  meaning.  And  Miriam — 
Miriam,  too,  had  suddenly  known  herself,  in  the  same 
hour  as  man  and  maid  so  often  do  ;  and,  like  other 
maidens,  was  far  less  self-conscious  over  it  than  David. 
It  was  certainly  not  etiquette  for  him  to  stop  to  talk 
with  a  lady,  especially  with  Habib  Ullah  in  charge. 
He  would  salute  her  and  her  escort  and  pass  along. 
But  not  so  the  Lady  Miriam.  Hers  was  an  open  soul 
that  knew  no  guile.  They  had  ridden  together  through 
the  night  and  day  of  their  adventure,  and  Habib  knew 
that  story,  so  she  might  very  well  stop  the  Sahib. 
She  did  so,  and  called  to  him  gaily,  with  that  proud 
note  behind  the  timbre  of  her  voice,  that  women  use 
for  those  they  conquer. 

"  Whither  away  so  fast,  Ferassa  Sahib,  that  you 
cannot  tarry  to  talk  to  me  or  the  Sirdar  here  ?  " 

Whereon  David  stopped  and  told  her  and  Habib 
Ullah  of  the  news  from  the  tribal  borders,  and  of  the 
early  start  of  the  army.  And  as  he  told  he  remembered 
what  had  slipped  his  thoughts  in  the  excitement  of 
hearing  the  Governor's  war  plans.  What  was  to 
become  of  Miriam  if  they  failed  ?  in  whose  ultimate 
charge  could  he  leave  her  ?  and  that  feeling  of  responsi- 
bility, that  men  feel  when  they  first  realize  what  the 
burdens  of  a  wife  may  mean,  struck  him  chill. 
*  Another  species  of  hawk. 


WAR  AND  HUMOURS  OF  WAR        249 

But  Miriam  only  clapped  her  hands  till  her  sleepy 
old  hawk  woke  up  and  tried  to  get  loose.  The 
new  model  army  should  go  and  show  its  worth, 
and  her  brother's  government  be  more  than  ever 
justified ! 

"  Oh,  Habib  Ullah  Khan  Sahib,  your  rissaldh  will  go 
too,  and  the  pack  guns  we  have  heard  so  much  of,  that 
that  other  Sahib  is  getting  ready.  I  have  heard  so 
much,  too,  from  His  Excellency  of  your  rissalah,  and 
how  good  you  have  made  it.  Oh  !  I  must  see  them  all 
march  out ! " 

Habib  Ullah  Khan  was  really  a  man  of  sterling 
character.  He  had  accepted  David  heartily  in  the 
beginning,  and  listened  contentedly  to  him  in  his  hints 
and  orders  on  cavalry  training.  He  had  seen  without 
a  spasm  of  jealousy,  his  troops  improve  each  day  in 
order  and  discipline,  and  he  had  conceived  a  deep  and 
lasting  friendship  and  devotion  for  David.  David  had 
fully  reciprocated  this  feeling,  and  save  in  the  matter 
of  Miriam  had  now  grown  to  confide  in  the  Afghan  most 
of  his  thoughts  and  troubles.  But  the  matter  of 
Miriam  did  not  need  confiding.  Habib  was  the  oldest 
of  students  of  love  and  its  ways.  He  had  two  dear 
good  wives  of  his  own  at  home  in  the  Punjab,  and  he 
had  a  sweetheart  or  a  light  of  love  in  every  town  he 
had  frequented,  and  in  many  a  village.  Habib's 
heart  was  large,  and,  for  all  his  licence,  sound.  He 
knew  to  differentiate  between  love  as  it  should  be  and 
the  love  that  appealed  to  his  lighter  nature.  The 
signs  of  both  phases  of  the  sentiment  were  familiar  to 
him.  He  quite  well  understood  the  situation  between 
Miriam  and  David ;  it  was  a  common  theme  in  poetry 
if  little  known  in  practice.  Therefore,  that  very 
staunch  comrade  in  arms,  as  is  the  wont  of  such,  after 
suitable  reply  to  the  lady,  said — 

"  I  will   hurry  on  with  my  men  to  the  ferry,  and 


250 

get  the  horses  in ;  will  you  escort  our  lady  down 
to  the  boat  ?  What  also  are  your  orders  for  the 
march  ?  " 

"  Your  rissaldh  must  meet  me  and  the  troops  from 
the  camp,  at  the  village  which  lies  a  kos  from  the  city, 
on  the  Bandipura  road  at  nine  in  the  morning.  You 
can  manage  that  ?  " 

"  I  can,  Sahib.    But  what  about  food  and  forage  ?  " 

"  The  Wazir  has  arranged  to  send  it  by  boat  to 
Bandipura,  and  I  have  ordered  it  for  one  night  at  the 
Shadipur  Tehsil" 

Whereon  the  cheery  Habib  waved  his  hand  and  rode 
off,  leaving  David  to  conduct  Miriam  down  to  the  ferry- 
boat. They  had  not  met  again  since  the  wonderful 
evening  on  the  river,  though  the  thoughts  of  both 
had  dwelt  lovingly  on  every  detail.  To  Miriam's 
genuine  nature  there  was  nothing  to  conceal,  and 
everything  to  rejoice  at.  Old  Amah  had  been  told 
in  secrecy,  and  Amah,  the  romantic,  had  applauded 
and  told  the  old  tales  of  Persia  of  love,  real  love  and 
romance,  that  had  come  to  the  thrice-blessed  ladies  in 
the  poems.  All  was  quite  wonderful.  There  would 
be  a  splendid  marriage  and  His  Excellency  would  give 
the  Sahib  many  jaghirs.  But  all  was  not  quite  such 
plain  sailing  as  Amah  prophesied.  David  himself  had 
doubted  whether  he  could  immediately  propose  to  the 
Governor  for  his  sister's  hand,  or  should  wait  till  further 
service  seemed  likely  to  make  him  more  indispensable 
to  Salabat  Khan.  Then  came  the  rumour  of  war,  and 
the  very  occasion  that  seemed  wanting  was  now  likely 
to  present  itself. 

As  they  rode  silently  together  the  same  thoughts 
passed  through  their  minds,  and  Miriam,  through  her 
veil,  noted  with  swelling  pride  how  well  her  lad  sat 
his  handsome  horse,  and  how  well  the  serious  looks 
became  him. 


WAR  AND  RUMOURS  OF  WAR         251 

Then  Miriam  broke  the  silence.  "  What  does  my 
Lord  think  of  the  frontier  trouble  ?  " 

"  Nay  !  dearest  lady  mine,  I  know  not  what  to  think 
as  yet.  The  trouble  in  itself  is  nothing  ;  but  I  wish  I 
knew  if  anything  was  behind  it.  Our  Toork  friends 
are  sending  horsemen  with  us,  but  I  wish  I  could  trust 
those  that  remain." 

"  What  does  my  brother  think  ?  " 

"  I  hardly  know  yet.  He  seems  to  feel  that  the 
frontier  must  be  quieted  at  once,  and  we  shall  take  all 
the  men  we  can." 

"  Ah,  dearest  mine,  you  make  me  anxious,  and  now 
I  know  why  women  weep  o'  nights  when  their  men  folk 
ride  out  to  war." 

"  War  is  war,  lady  mine,  and  each  of  us  must  bear 
our  part.  My  mother  wept,  I  well  remember,  when 
my  father  left  us  for  the  wars  ;  but  he  returned  safe 
and  gained  great  praise  and  honour  for  his  share.  I 
shall  return  I  hope  with  your  brother's  approba- 
tion, and  feel  I  may  make  open  proposal  for  your 
hand." 

"  Dear,  dear !  how  the  man  runs  on.  You  make 
sure  that  I  will  marry  you  at  once  then,  sir  ?  " 

And  David  looked  up  in  her  face  and  laughed,  a  laugh 
that  took  all  the  care  and  thought  out  of  his  own  brows, 
and  made  the  world  ring  young. 

"  Lady  mine,  I  shall  carry  you  off  like  many  a  true 
Afghani  before  you,  whether  your  brother  wills  it  or 
no  ;  and  I  will  take  my  rissalah  back  to  General  Lake 
Sahib  and  demand  service." 

"  Ah  !  I  should  like  that ;  but  you  would  not  leave 
my  brother  ?  " 

"  Not  unless  you  trifle  with  me  and  make  me  carry 
you  away,  lady  mine." 

And  so  happily  sparring  the  two  came  to  the  ferry, 
where  the  discreet  Habib  was  awaiting  them. 


252  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

"  The  Lady  Miriam  will  ride  out,  Habib,  to  see  us 
march  off.  Farewell,  Lady." 

And  since  the  farewell  could  not  be  intimate,  David 
stood  watching  the  boat  cross  to  the  palace  side,  and 
then  with  a  wave  of  his  hand  mounted  and  galloped 
off  to  his  camp.  The  hurry  and  excitement  of  prepara- 
tion soon  effaces  from  the  soldiers'  mind  for  the  moment 
the  thought  of  the  women  to  be  left  behind,  and  it  was 
late  that  night  when  he  finished  his  preparations  and 
turned  back  to  his  own  tent  for  a  meal  and  sleep. 

There  waiting  he  found  perhaps  the  man  he  wanted 
most.  The  good  padre  had  heard  of  the  move  of  troops 
and  the  frontier  troubles,  indeed,  who  had  not,  and 
had  come  to  wish  God-speed.  His  heart  was  warm  to 
David  and  also  to  Miriam,  and  he  had  noticed,  or 
perhaps  hoped,  that  there  might  be  some  link  between 
them.  Since  Miriam  had  questioned  him  of  the  ways 
of  the  European  with  women  away  up  by  the  Palace  of 
Fairies  he  had  met  her  several  times  and  talked.  The 
two  were  made  for  each  other,  he  felt. 

"  Ah,  Padrd  Sahib,  welcome  indeed  !  You  have 
heard  we  are  off  to  the  wars." 

"  I  have,  indeed,  my  son,  and  I  regret  it.  There 
are  better  things  to  do  with  men  than  killing  them." 

"  Ah,  father,  you  can't  expect  soldiers  to  repine. 
Fighting  is  our  trade,  and  a  man  must  practice  his 
trade  if  he  be  a  true  man." 

"  Agreed,  my  son ;  but  I  have  seen  too  many  men 
fall  in  others'  quarrels  to  wish  you  joy  of  a  campaign. 
You've  no  one  to  leave  behind,  but  others  have.  I 
know  that  these  invaders  must  be  read  a  lesson,  but 
I  mourn  the  need.  I  have  been  among  these  tribesmen 
and  I  know  so  well  the  inhabitants  of  the  harried  tracts. 
How  long,  0  Lord  !  How  long  ?  " 

The  reference  to  none  to  leave  behind  at  once 
brought  uppermost  his  love  for  Miriam. 


WAB  AND  EUMOUES  OF  WAR        253 

"  Father,  as  you  have  paid  me  this  kind  visit  let  me 
tell  you  my  troubles  before  Captain  Tone  may  come. 
Father !  the  Lady  Miriam  has  plighted  troth  to  me, 
and  I  would  marry  her  as  soon  as  I  can  get  His  Excel- 
lency to  accede ;  though  I  know  not  yet  how  to 
approach  him." 

"  My  son,  I  had  guessed  as  much,  and  I  would  wish 
you  much  joy.  Oh,  sir,  I  have  had  in  my  life  some 
experience  of  women,  good  and  bad,  and  the  good  are 
more  than  the  bad.  But  I  have  never  met  a  truer 
woman's  heart  than  beats  in  that  Afghan  girl.  I  wish 
you  every  happiness." 

And  Jean  Armande  wrung  the  young  soldier's  hand. 
"  Father,  one  favour  of  favours  I  ask  of  you.    Watch 
over  her  while  I  am  away.    I  mistrust  those  accursed 
Toorks.      Daoud  Shah  has  disappeared.      I  fear  mis- 
chief in  this  valley,  and  so,  I  know,  does  the  Wazir" 

"  Son,  you  do  well  to  mistrust  them  all.  As  for 
that  evil  Afghan,  he  has  left  the  valley  for  none  know 
where.  Certain  it  is  he  is  gone  for  no  good.  That  man 
is  a  devil  incarnate,  and  has  the  full  knowledge  of  good 
and  evil."  And  here  the  padre  seemed  to  speak  to 
himself.  "  He  knows,  too,  the  ineffable  name." 

"  What !  Do  you  mean  that  which  is  spoken  for 
concealment,  Adonai  ?  " 

"  You,  too  !  "  said  the  priest.  "  How  come  you  to 
know  that  which  conceals  the  ineffable  name  ?  " 

"  I,  father !  I  know  what  my  father  taught  me. 
He  was  a  prince  and  a  ruler.  ..." 

"  Tush,  my  son,  never  mind  it,  and  never  say  it.  ... 
Strange  that  I  a  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Jesus  of  all  people  should  talk  to  you  of 
such  forbidden  things  .  .  .  but  this  Daoud  Shah,  he 
knows  far  more  than  you  or  I  ...  he  knows  it  of  the 
old  time  afore." 
"  Well,  I  am  glad  to  know  that  he  knows  it.  It  may 


254  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

be  useful ;  but  now,  father,  I  appeal  to  you  by  the 
great  appeal  to  protect  the  Lady  Miriam  by  every 
means  in  your  power,  by  all  the  five.  .  .  ." 

"  Son  ...  I  have  long  foregone  such  things,  and 
I  will  help  you  and  your  lady  not  by  the  appeal  of  the 
craft,  mighty  though  the  aids  be  that  you  invoke  ;  but 
for  the  sake  of  the  Son  of  God  and  His  Mother,  and  the 
greater  includes  the  less." 

And  here  Captain  Tone  came  up  and  knelt  to  the  old 
Abbe,  who  after  some  conservation  rose  to  go. 

"  Your  blessing,  your  Riverence !  before  we  leave 
for  the  war,"  he  begged,  to  which  David  added  a  plea 
for  the  same,  "  even  though  I  be  not  a  Catholic." 

"  Children,"  said  the  old  man.  "  Such  blessing  as 
I  may  bestow  is  for  all  the  children,  whether  of  the 
Catholic  Church  or  not,"  and  the  two  men  knelt,  and 
there  under  the  walnut  trees,  with  the  flicker  of  the 
camp  fires  on  the  waters  of  the  lake,  Jean  St.  Hilaire 
Armande  du  Plessis  of  the  family  of  Richelieu,  gave  his 
blessing  to  those  two  soldiers  of  fortune,  the  old 
sonorous  Latin  falling  far  afield  in  the  clear  night  air, 
"  Benedicat  vos,  Omnipotens  Pater,  Filius  et  Spiritus 
Sanctus.  Amen" 


CHAPTEE  XXIV 

THE  ARMY   ADVANCES 

BY  nine  in  the  morning  the  whole  of  the  troops  were 
on  the  road  or  marching  to  their  boats,  and  all  night 
long  had  Yar  Khan  laboured  at  his  post  of  commissary- 
general,  and  the  spade  work  of  war  that  the  young 
leaders  forget  till  their  belts  grow  loose  and  their  horses 
lean.  To  the  Tehsildars,  the  representatives  of  govern- 
ment, had  gone  forth  orders  for  supplies  to  be  collected 
forthwith  at  Bandipura,  that  landing-place  on  the  great 
Wular  Lake,  whence  the  road  rises  over  the  mountain, 
first  to  Gurais  and  then  on  over  the  dread  Baroghil 
pass  to  Gilgit  and  Dardestan.  Five  hundred  ponies 
were  being  collected  to  carry  grain  and  other  supplies, 
and  at  least  a  hundred  would  be  ready  for  the  first 
start.  It  was  summer  now,  and  the  troops  must  move 
light. 

At  the  village  on  the  Bandipura  road  two  streams 
met.  One,  that  of  the  Bodyguard  squadron,  under 
Habib  Ullah,  and  the  other  that  of  David's  rissalali, 
accompanied  by  Tone  and  his  pack  artillery,  the  dust 
of  the  road  rising  high  and  white  and  acrid  above  the 
tance  penons.  On  the  hither  side  of  the  village  sat 
awaiting  them  His  Excellency  and  the  Lady  Miriam 
with  a  few  orderlies.  Riding  beside  His  Excellency 
was  the  Lord  Altamish,  affable  and  voluble.  He  was 
to  accompany  the  force  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  of 

255 


256  A  FEBELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

his  mounted  retainers,  who  were  already  following 
behind  Habib  Khan,  somewhat  to  that  gentleman's 
disgust.  There  was  a  screw  about  his  mouth  and 
moustache  that  made  Miriam  say  to  her  brother  as  ho 
passed — 

"  What  is  wrong  with  the  Sirdar  ?  " 
At  which  Salabat  Khan  laughed  and  leant  over  to 
her  with  a  glance  at  Altamish. 
"  Doesn't  like  the  smell  of  Toorks,  I  fancy." 
Directly  after  passing  them,  Habib  formed  up  his 
squadron  on  an  open  space  outside  the  village,  followed 
by  the  Toorks.     The  new  drill  had  enabled  the  former 
to  form  up  quietly  and  compactly,  while  the  attempt 
of  the  Toorks  to  follow  suit  was  lamentable.    A  few 
minutes    later    David's  own  rissalah  marched  up  in 
six  neatly  turned   out   troops,   beautifully  mounted, 
who  formed  up  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  the 
very  pink  of  orderly  light  cavalry.    A  kettle  drummer 
too  rode  at  the  head,  and  the  deep-rolled  musical  beat 
breathed  war  and  splendour.    Fifty  yards  behind  came 
a  jinketty  jink  and  a  shuffle,  and  lo  !    here  was  the 
pack  battery  of  which  there  had  been  so  much  talk. 
Thirty  white  and  grey  Yarkandi  ponies  were  carrying 
two  guns  and  a  small  mortar,  with  a  good  supply  of 
ammunition.      The  like,  so  light  and  movable,  had 
never    been   seen   in    Kashmir.    Salabat    Khan    was 
highly  pleased  with  the  results  that  David  had  obtained. 
It  was  the  first  time  that  he  had  seen  it  all  together,  and 
he  had  also  noticed  the  steady  drill  of  the  infantry 
whom  he  had  passed  en  route  to  the  boats.    Sending 
for  David,  Tone  and  Habib,  he  gave  praise  in  no  stinting 
fashion.    Altamish,  too,  was  forced  to  praise  where  he 
longed  to  curse  and,  under  cloak  of  the  talk,  David 
managed  to  get  a  word  with  Miriam,  and  even  clasp 
her  hand,  while  saying — 

"  Miriam,  dear,  if  there  is  any  trouble  while  we  are 


THE  ARMY  ADVANCES  257 

away,  rely  on  the  old  padre.  He  has  power  to  help  you 
that  none  other  may  have." 

Then,  with  a  nod  from  her,  it  was  time  to  move  off, 
which  they  did,  cheering  loudly,  David  leading. 
Salabat  Khan  answering  their  shouts,  said  he  would 
join  them  with  the  infantry  at  Bandipura,  whereat 
they  cheered  again.  It  took  nearly  an  hour  for  the 
mounted  men  and  guns  to  file  through  the  narrow 
village,  and  the  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  before 
the  Governor  and  Miriam  could  leave  the  stirring  sight 
and  canter  back  to  the  palace.  As  they  went  Salabat 
Khan  said  to  his  sister — 

"  Ah,  Miriam,  I  have  seen  plenty  of  soldiers,  but 
never  any  like  the  Ferassa  Uissalah  and  Habib  Ullah's 
corps.  That  Ferassa  Sahib  is  a  treasure,  and  some 
day,  when  Yar  Khan  wants  rest,  I  will  make  him 
Wazir.  Pity  he  is  not  wholly  Afghan,  or  he  would 
make  a  good  husband  for  you,  and  perhaps  be  able  to 
keep  you  in  better  order  than  I  can.  Eh,  my  lass  ?  " 

But  so  obviously  absurd  a  suggestion  merited  no 
reply,  though  Miriam  did  agree  and  that  con  amore, 
that  the  troops  were  first  rate,  and  the  dear  Yarkandi 
ponies  with  the  guns  a-top  splendid. 

But  as  she  rode,  ever  and  anon  her  heart  ran  cold, 
as  it  had  done  o'nights  since  that  vision  in  the  fire,  at  the 
thought  of  Daoud  Shah  of  the  cleft  forehead  pacing 
the  garden  by  the  lake  shore  and  projecting  himself 
into  her  life.  And  she  shuddered  till  the  very  horse 
took  up  the  rider's  fear  and  perspired  the  more. 

That  night  Salabat  Khan  placed  Inayat  Ullah,  the 
palace  commandant,  in  temporary  charge  as  governor 
of  the  valley,  and  himself  took  boat  for  Bandipura  and 
the  Wular  Lake,  while  David's  column  halted  at 
Sambal,  and  pushed  on  early  next  morning  round  the 
shores  of  the  lake  to  the  place  of  assembly,  which  they 
reached  ere  the  sun  was  over  the  top  of  Haramukh. 

s 


258 

All  that  day  was  spent  in  packing  stores  and  grain, 
and  arranging  for  the  despatch  of  convoys  to  follow.  A 
fat  old  Goorkha  subafidar  was  left  at  the  base  on  the 
lake  shore  as  superintendent  of  stores,  which  he  tested 
practically  by  sampling  with  his  finger  every  keg  of 
ghee,  licking  the  same  with  his  lips,  till  his  waistbelt 
refused  to  buckle  more. 

A  reliable  sirdar  remained  to  control  the  despatch 
of  subsequent  consignments.  Yar  Khan  himself,  com- 
petent at  all  details,  personally  supervised  everything 
of  this  sort,  while  David  cared  for  the  actual  war  forma- 
tions and  the  ammunition.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
came  a  message  from  the  fort  at  Kanzilwan  to  say  that 
they  were  still  holding  out  but  were  hard  pressed  and 
needed  aid  at  once. 

Salabat  Khan  decided  to  start  forthwith,  getting  to 
the  top  of  the  Eajdiangan  Pass  that  night  and  advancing 
on  to  Gurais  in  the  early  morning.  To  the  top  of  the 
pass  from  the  lake  or  rather  to  a  suitable  halt  a  mile 
or  two  this  side  of  the  top  would  be  some  fifteen  miles, 
and  Gurais  itself  some  thirteen  miles  further  on.  It 
was  essential  that  the  ground  to  be  occupied  that  night 
should  be  clear  of  enemy,  for  it  is  impossible  to 
march  by  night  except  in  ground  already  made  good, 
unless  extraordinary  risks  are  to  be  run.  David,  with 
his  rissaldh  of  two  hundred  lances  was  therefore  pushed 
on  early  in  the  afternoon  to  make  good  the  top  of  the 
pass.  This  was  done  without  incident,  and  by  five  p.m. 
Salabat  Khan  received  a  message  from  him  that  all  was 
well,  and  that  the  remainder  of  the  force  could  move 
under  cover  of  darkness  with  perfect  safety.  Soon 
after  midnight  the  whole  of  the  force  save  for  fifty 
bayonets  left  at  the  base,  was  quietly  collected  and 
sleeping  without  fires  under  arms  on  the  top  of  the 
Tragbal.  It  now  consisted  of  six  hundred  sabres  or 
lances  and  three  hundred  bayonets,  with  a  couple  of 


THE  AEMY  ADVANCES  259 

hundred  fatssadars  of  little  real  value  in  the  open 
despite  the  fact  that  several  of  them  were  helping  hold 
the  fort  at  Kanzilwan. 

The  Ferassa  Eissalah  led  the  way  at  five  a.m.,  when 
the  first  flush  of  dawn  was  slowly  reddening  the  snow 
on  Haramukh,  and  the  serrated  tops  of  the  distant 
Burzil.  Following  behind  came  the  Bodyguard,  and 
then  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  of  the  Begiinent  of 
Victory,  with  Tone's  artillery.  After  them  came  the 
Toork  horse  to  the  number  of  a  hundred  and  fifty,  one 
hundred  men  of  the  Begiment  of  Lightning  closing  the 
column  with  the  baggage  animals  and  a  hundred  ponies 
packed  with  supplies.  Salabat  Khan,  with  Altamish 
and  Yar  Khan  rode  at  the  head  of  the  Bodyguard,  while 
David  commanded  the  advanced  guard.  By  seven  in 
the  morning  the  summit  of  the  pass  and  the  long  knife- 
edge  at  the  top  had  been  crossed,  and  the  head  of  the 
column  was  winding  down  towards  the  Gurais  valley. 

Here  the  first  sign  of  an  enemy  was  encountered. 
Seeing  some  smoke  at  the  bottom  of  the  descent  from 
the  pass,  David  had  sent  Ganesha  Singh  with  half  a 
dozen  troopers  to  see  what  was  the  cause  of  it,  and 
found  some  twenty  men  laden  with  the  pillage  of  a 
small  farm,  to  which  they  had  just  set  fire.  Ganesha 
Singh  had  at  once  trotted  down  towards  them  as  fast 
as  the  nature  of  the  ground  permitted,  only  to  find 
that  half  of  them  had  galloped  off  on  their  ponies,  and 
the  remainder  had  shinned  up  the  adjacent  hillside  to 
take  pot-shots  at  him  with  their  long-barrelled  jezails. 
As  David  came  up  half  a  dozen  of  his  Afghan  troopers 
had  been  dismounted  and  sent  up  the  hillside  to  dislodge 
the  snipers,  which  they  soon  did.  Leaving  them  as  a 
piquet,  David  moved  out  the  whole  of  his  rissalali  into 
the  open  valley,  and  advanced  a  mile  towards  Gurais, 
before  he  saw  any  further  sign  of  the  enemy.  As  the 
leading  files,  however,  turned  a  bend  in  the  valley  the 


260  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

little  fort  of  Kanzilwan  could  be  seen  on  a  small  rise, 
and  round  and  in  front  of  the  fort  bodies  of  troops 
and  skirmishers.  It  would  appear  that  the  fort  still 
held  out. 

David  at  once  ordered  Ganesha  Singh  to  reconnoitre 
again  with  half  a  dozen  men,  while  he  moved  the 
advanced  guard  out  of  sight  behind  a  grove  of  ilex  in 
a  bend  of  the  stream.  The  temptation  to  go  forward 
himself  and  reconnoitre  was  strong.  It  always  is  in 
good  leaders,  but  there  are  times  when  the  true  leader 
will  stay  behind  and  let  others  be  his  eyes.  In  this 
case  as  the  troops  were  new  and  untried,  and  the  main 
body  was  but  slowly  filing  down  from  off  the  pass,  it 
would  be  well  to  have  the  whole  force  at  hand.  Salabat 
Khan  himself  soon  came  up,  and  David  explained  the 
situation  to  him  as  far  as  he  understood  it.  By  this 
time  Ganesha  Singh  had  gone  a  mile  or  so  to  the  front 
on  the  open  plain,  broken  by  patches  of  long  grass  and 
the  meanderings  of  the  Gurais  stream. 

The  tribesmen  who  had  known  for  some  little 
time  that  the  Kashmir  troops  were  advancing,  had 
redoubled  their  attacks  on  the  little  fort.  But  the  fort 
garrison  also  had  some  inkling  that  help  was  forth- 
coming, and  had  stiffened  their  backs  accordingly.  A 
considerable  body  of  tribesmen  armed  with  sword  and 
matchlock,  were  waiting  behind  a  small  stony  knoll 
that  had  at  one  time  been  thrown  down  from  the  hills 
above.  The  fort  lay  close  to  the  hills,  commanding  a 
ford  and  rough  log-bridge  over  the  stream.  The  plain 
between  the  stream  and  the  hills  gradually  narrowed 
as  the  fort  was  approached,  and  as  the  stream  was  not 
fordable  everywhere,  the  terrain  became  restricted  for 
the  action  of  horse,  in  their  advance  towards  the  fort. 
David  could  not  see  this  from  his  position  by  the  ilex 
grove,  nor  had  Ganesha  Singh  the  time  to  discover  it. 
Twenty  or  thirty  horsemen  advanced  on  his  patrol  as 


THE  ARMY  ADVANCES  261 

it  got  near  the  fort  and  drove  them  back  helter 
skelter.  Salabat  Khan  then  ordered  David  to  take 
forward  his  own  men  and  he  would  support  him  with 
the  Bodyguard.  The  infantry  and  Toork  horse,  who 
had  now  come  down  into  the  open,  were  to  follow,  the 
artillery  with  them. 

The  tribal  horsemen  followed  Ganesha  Singh  and  his 
patrol  well  down  towards  the  ilex  grove,  when  they 
suddenly  saw  the  troops  descending  the  hill,  and  at 
that  moment  David  moved  forward  with  his  leading 
troop  at  a  hand  canter.  The  troop  gave  a  yell  and 
broke  into  a  gallop  which  David  could  not  restrain. 
They  were  almost  all  young  soldiers,  and  it  was  their 
first  fight.  Nihal  Singh  was  their  commander,  and 
David,  pulling  up  his  own  horse  with  difficulty,  told 
the  duffedar  to  take  them  right  on  while  he  himself 
endeavoured  to  steady  the  other  three  troops.  It  was 
lucky  he  did  so,  for  all  were  excited.  However,  his 
voice  brought  them  to  their  bearings,  and  he  was  able 
to  bring  them  along  at  a  steady  trot. 

Nihal  Singh's  troop  was  wildly  out  of  hand.  Better 
mounted  than  the  tribesmen,  it  soon  came  up  with 
the  latter.  Some  were  cut  down  before  they  could 
turn,  some  turned  and  closed  on  their  pursuers,  while 
others  circled  their  foe  for  an  opening  to  cut  or  thrust. 
It  was  cut  and  thrust  and  curse  and  cut  again,  and 
several  men  had  fallen  from  their  horses,  till  the  melee 
had  moved  down  level  with  the  stony  knoll,  from  out 
behind  which  rushed  a  large  number  of  swordsmen,  yelling 
fiercely.  Atop  the  knoll  the  tom-tom  drummers  beat 
their  doles  or  tom-toms  in  a  maddening  throb  and  roll, 
and  Nihal  Singh's  two  score  or  so  seemed  hard  pressed, 
for  their  gallop  was  over,  and  each  was  attacked  by 
two  or  three  of  the  enemy. 

Then  the  wisdom  of  David's  action  was  evident 
enough.  Behind  were  three  formed  troops,  two  of 


262  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

which  he  now  brought  up  at  a  smart  though  steady 
pace,  and  charged  straight  into  the  crowd,  both  friend 
and  foe.  Their  impetus  took  them  right  through  the 
crowd,  though  many  of  the  swordsmen  threw  them- 
selves on  the  ground  and  hacked  and  hamstrung  the 
horses  as  they  galloped  by.  Passing  through  the 
enemy  and  nearing  the  fort,  David  tried  to  rally  his 
men,  and  realized  that  it  would  have  been  wiser  to 
have  had  some  men  armed  with  the  lance.  Swordsmen 
a-foot  who  hack  at  horses'  bellies  or  who  hide  in  scrub 
can  only  be  got  at  or  dug  out  with  the  lance,  which  an 
older  soldier  could  have  told  him.  On  the  opposite 
bank  of  the  river  were  posted  matchlock  men  who  kept 
up  a  galling  musketry  fire,  and  David  was  beginning  to 
realize  that  a  successful  cavalry  charge  does  not  of 
necessity  carry  you  very  much  further.  Here  he  was, 
right  through  the  enemy,  who,  instead  of  being  hope- 
lessly demoralized  were  lying  down  in  the  broken 
ground  defying  him,  galling  by  their  musketry  tho 
troopers  whom  he  was  trying  to  rally  and  reform. 
Already  three  or  four  had  been  hit,  and  there  were  a 
few  wigs  on  the  green  on  the  site  of  the  charge. 

Then  Salabat  Khan  took  a  hand  in  the  game.  Habib 
Ullah,  with  half  the  Bodyguard  crossed  at  a  small  ford, 
half  a  mile  back,  and  came  cheering  down  the  bank  on 
which  the  matchlock  men  were  posted.  They  were  rolled 
up  like  straw  in  the  wind,  and  Habib  himself  led  a  score 
or  so  of  troopers  over  the  rickety  bridge  and  on  to  the 
reverse  slope  of  the  stony  knoll.  Half  the  drummers 
were  sabred,  and  a  small  knot  of  swordsmen  broken 
up.  The  cessation  of  the  enthusing  tom-tom  changed  the 
attitude  of  the  swordsmen  who  were  lying  in  the  scrub. 
They  lost  their  confidence  and  tried  to  bolt  without 
cohesion.  Then  was  the  time  for  David's  men,  both 
those  who  had  charged  and  those,  like  the  reserve 
troop,  who  only  now  came  up.  Round  and  round 


THE  AKMY  ADVANCES  263 

the  plain  they  chased  the  tribesmen,  who  fled  squealing, 
rarely  turning  to  aim  a  half-hearted  blow.  A  dozen  or 
so  were  cut  down,  the  remainder  made  their  way  to  the 
hillside  or  across  the  stream  to  be  chased  by  the 
Bodyguard  who  there  awaited  them.  In  an  hour's 
time  the  enemy  surrounding  the  fort  had  been  entirely 
broken  up,  and  the  fight  for  the  relief  of  the  garrison 
was  over,  though  a  large  force  of  men  hung  against 
the  hillside  a  mile  or  so  beyond  the  fort.  Salabat 
Khan  was  highly  elated,  and  the  army  very  satisfied 
with  itself.  Horsemen  kept  breaking  from  the  ranks 
to  shout  out  defiance  to  the  distant  enemy  and  recount 
their  own  prowess.  The  troops  of  the  Ferassa  Eissalah 
alone  kept  their  re-formed  ranks.  The  action  had  been 
so  short  a  one  that  Captain  Tone  had  no  chance  to  get 
his  guns  to  work,  and  was  bemoaning  the  fact  in  choice 
Hibernian. 

As  excitement  cooled  down,  Yar  Khan  pressed  for 
further  plans.  Were  they  to  pursue  the  enemy  on 
the  hillside,  or  should  they  go  into  bivouac  at  once  ? 
Already  the  enemy  had  reappeared  in  the  far  corner  of 
the  plain,  and  clusters  of  tribesmen  with  their  banners 
crowned  every  spur  a  mile  away.  David  eagerly 
pressed  for  an  advance.  He  would  take  his  own  men 
with  the  Toork  horse — let  them  do  a  bit — and  the  guns 
forward.  Yar  Khan  was  divided  between  the  military 
importance  of  following  up  a  victory  with  the  question 
of  supply  and  rest,  and  the  obvious  fact  that  the  enemy 
could  not  be  struck  a  blow  of  any  value  in  the  remain- 
ing hours  of  daylight.  Salabat  Khan's  decision  came 
promptly  enough.  David  should  pursue  as  he  sug- 
gested, and  at  any  rate  fire  his  guns  off.  The  remaining 
troops  should  go  into  bivouac.  It  was  not  a  really 
admirable  decision,  but  it  was  a  very  natural  com- 
promise, and  quite  appealed  to  the  Oriental.  As  a 
matter  of  practical  politics,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it 


264  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

was  hoped  to  get  the  enemy  to  stand  on  the  morrow 
and  take  some  punishment,  it  was  hardly  worth  while 
to  run  the  chance  of  driving  him  a  day's  march  further 
off  without  any  certainty  of  inflicting  any  real  loss. 

The  result  was  as  might  have  been  expected.  David 
took  his  force  forward  boldly,  the  Toorks  leading,  his 
own  men  in  support.  A  few  horsemen  careered  away 
in  front  of  him,  and  a  knot  of  swordsmen  advanced 
with  a  standard  and  then  thought  better  of  it.  The 
Toorks  advanced  gaily  enough,  but  there  was  little  to 
be  done ;  then,  coming  under  musketry  range  of  some 
of  the  spurs,  they  were  received  by  a  peppering  and 
wheeled  about.  Tone  brought  his  guns  into  action 
five  hundred  yards  away,  but  did  little  except  advertise 
their  presence.  So,  after  an  hour's  field  day,  enlivened 
by  the  sight  of  the  waving  standards  on  the  hillside, 
the  throb  and  roll  of  the  doles  and  the  exulting  jeers 
and  cries  of  the  tribesmen,  David  drew  off  in  good 
order.  His  men  retired  by  alternate  troops,  facing 
about  in  succession  to  show  a  front  to  the  tribal  horse- 
men who  hung  about  at  a  respectful  distance.  By  five 
in  the  afternoon  all  the  Kashmir  troops  were  in  camp, 
cooking  their  meals  and  resting  their  horses,  while 
arrangements  for  protection  for  the  night  were  pre- 
pared. From  a  corner  of  the  little  mud  fort  David  and 
Salabat  Khan  watched  the  enemy,  the  former  being 
the  possessor  of  what  was  almost  unknown  to  Orientals — 
his  father's  old  spyglass. 

Beyond  the  insolent  standards  there  was  little  fresh 
to  see,  and  it  only  remained  to  make  the  morrow's 
plans  and  hear  the  reports  of  the  Kommadan  of  the 
leaguered  fort,  and  his  Ithassadars,  and  dispose  of  those 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  action. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

DEFEAT 

THE  next  morning  found  the  Kashmir  force  under 
arms  early.  The  night  had  not  been  a  restful  one. 
Half  a  dozen  matchlock  men  from  the  hill  overhanging 
the  little  fort  and  the  ford  of  the  Kishenganga  had 
flicked  hammered  iron  slugs  into  the  camp  right 
through  the  long  night.  When  the  firing  commenced, 
the  troops  sprung  to  arms,  soon  to  find  that  nothing 
happened,  and  eventually  had  slept  fitfully  at  their 
alarm  posts.  About  midnight,  it  is  true,  a  throb  of 
doles  and  an  outburst  of  shouting  had  seemed  to 
indicate  a  rush  of  swordsmen,  but  this  had  come  to 
nothing.  Outside  camp  in  the  early  morning,  however, 
two  of  their  water-carriers  were  found  hacked  to  pieces. 
The  army  swore  vengeance  deep  and  loud.  But  a 
disturbed  night  after  a  fatiguing  day  is  not  the  best 
preparation  for  another  day's  fighting,  and  Yar  Khan 
prevailed  on  Salabat  Khan  to  let  the  men  cook  and 
finish  a  good  meal  before  starting. 

It  was  therefore  after  eight  when  the  advance  began. 
Salabat  Khan  had  decided  on  advancing  straight  up 
the  pass  in  the  hope  of  getting  into  close  contact 
with  the  tribesmen.  The  baggage  and  a  hundred 
infantry  soldiers  would  remain  at  the  fort,  and  the 
whole  of  the  rest  of  the  force  would  move  out.  To 
David's  satisfaction  the  tribal  banners  still  fluttered 

265 


266  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

on  the  hillside,  a  mile  and  a  half  away,  and  a-top  the 
first  shoulder  perhaps  six  hundred  feet  above  the 
Gurais  valley.  The  plan  was  a  straightforward  one, 
so  far  as  arrangement  went.  David  was  to  dismount 
the  whole  of  his  men  save  horseholders  and  advance 
up  the  hillside  with  all  the  available  infantry,  totalling 
some  three  hundred  bayonets  and  matchlocks.  Habib 
Ullah,  with  the  Bodyguard  and  the  Toork  Horse,  would 
remain  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  while  Tone  with 
his  guns  would  accompany  the  advance. 

At  the  foot  of  the  hill  David  put  his  horses  under 
cover  from  fire,  protected  by  the  Bodyguard,  and  com- 
menced an  advance  up  one  of  the  spurs  which  led  to 
the  enemy's  position  above.  The  Eegiment  of  Victory 
started  up  a  parallel  spur,  while  Tone  brought  his  guns 
up  behind  David.  When  the  advance  came  within  a 
couple  of  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  standards  a 
spluttering  fire  of  musketry  commenced,  the  bullets 
from  the  long  hand-made  steel  jezails  flicking  in  with 
some  precision.  Two  of  the  guns  came  into  action 
and  began  throwing  round  shot  at  the  stone  breast- 
works behind  which  the  tribesmen  stood  and  yelled 
defiance.  Shooting  up-hill  with  round-shot,  however, 
is  not  a  very  formidable  proceeding,  and  after  the  first 
moral  effect  of  the  artillery  fire,  the  effect  grew  less  on 
the  defenders.  Short  as  it  was,  however,  it  created  a 
sufficient  lull  in  the  matchlock  fire  to  allow  of  David's 
men,  of  whom  a  hundred  were  leading  and  a  hundred 
in  support,  to  get  close  within  range.  One  man  of 
every  two  had  a  flint-lock  carbine  a  la  dragoon,  and  at 
a  distance  of  eighty  yards  the  leading  troop  fired  a 
volley,  and  then  started  to  rush  in.  The  volley  and 
the  rush  carried  the  first  breastwork.  Over  the  stone 
walls  leapt  David's  men,  who  were  almost  all  hillmen 
themselves.  There  was  a  short  sharp  scrimmage, 
sword  on  sword  and  sword  against  carbine  and  locking 


DEFEAT  267 

ring.  Once  a  gigantic  warrior  had  cut  at  David,  to  be 
shot  through  the  jaw  from  the  young  soldier's  duelling- 
pistol,  of  which  he  carried  the  pair  in  his  waist  sash. 
Once  a  bell-mouthed  pistol  was  jammed  against  his 
abdomen  by  some  one  behind,  but  Gul  Jan  cut  the 
assailant's  hand  off  before  he  could  pull  the  trigger, 
and  a  second  trooper  cut  the  man  down.  In  a 
minute  after  the  troopers  had  reached  the  breastwork, 
the  occupants  were  scuttling  back  to  the  next  ridge  less 
five  of  their  number.  Halting  to  recover  breath  after 
the  climb  and  rush,  David  stood  surveying  the  ground 
ahead,  when  there  came  loud  shouts  from  the  right. 
Twenty  men  following  one  who  carried  a  green  banner 
rushed  out  on  them  from  a  gorge  close  by.  They  came 
silently,  and  David  saw  them  first. 

"  Ganesha  Singh,  look  out !  Look  out !  The  ghazis 
are  coming  at  you." 

Ganesha  Singh  had  a  dozen  of  his  own  old  troop 
there.  They  at  once  ran  together.  The  old  officer 
knew  well  enough  that  there  was  only  one  thing  that 
could  stop  the  rush.  Half  a  dozen  of  the  men  had  not 
discharged  their  pieces  or  had  reloaded. 

"  Steady,  sowar-log  *,  steady  !  Now,  altogether ! 
Fire  !  " 

Six  one-ounce  bullets  whistled  among  the  ghazis, 
three  found  a  billet,  and  the  attack  slowed  down.  A 
volley  is  the  recognized  remedy  for  a  rush  among  those 
who  are  in  the  habit  of  meeting  such  ugly  border 
tactics.  Then  Ganesha  Singh  whipped  out  his  curved 
sword  and,  with  those  of  the  troopers  who  had  not 
carbines,  rushed  at  the  faltering  ghazis.  They  turned 
and  fled,  and  that  particular  phase  came  to  an  end. 
A  hundred  yards  further  on,  however,  were  more 
breastworks  and  banners  and  more  throbbing  doles. 

*  Troopers. 


268  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIB 

The  drummers  beat  on  the  tightened  sheepskins  with 
maddening  persistency. 

Another  hundred  yards  away  on  his  left,  the  men  of 
the  Kegiment  of  Victory,  headed  by  a  small  party  of 
Goorkhas,  were  approaching  this  upper  line.  With  the 
support  to  this  advance  were  Salabat  Khan  and  Yar 
Khan.  Altamish  had  remained  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
with  his  horsemen.  The  leading  company  of  the  regi- 
ment was  armed  with  matchlocks,  and  it  formed  a 
rough  front  and  fired,  before  advancing  to  within 
fifty  yards  or  so  of  the  breastwork.  Then  their  Kom- 
madan  called  on  them  to  charge,  which  they  did 
readily  enough,  but  before  they  could  close  they  in 
their  turn  received  a  volley  from  the  jezails,  and  with 
a  wild  roll  on  the  doles  and  a  blood-curdling  yell  the 
whole  of  that  portion  of  the  defenders  flung  themselves 
over  their  breastwork  and  rushed  down  the  slope  on 
the  Kashmir  men.  It  would  have  taken  all  the  staunch- 
ness of  old  and  tried  troops  on  the  Company's  model  to 
withstand  an  assault  of  that  kind.  Before  the  long 
hacking  tribal  knives  could  get  within  reach,  the 
leading  company  of  the  Eegiment  of  Victory  broke, 
turned  and  fled.  Fortunately  for  them  all,  Salabat 
Khan  himself  was  with  the  second  company.  He  at 
once  put  himself  at  its  head  and  charged  the  tribes- 
men. Down  went  the  green  banners,  and  back  broke 
the  tribesmen  at  this  fresh  onslaught,  but  not  before 
they  had  left  a  dozen  of  their  number  on  the  ground. 
And  while  they  had  been  charging  down  from  their 
breastworks,  David's  party  had  been  pressing  on  to  the 
second  line  of  stones,  which  together  with  Salabat 
Khan's  onslaught  definitely  drove  the  enemy  from 
their  main  defensive  line.  With  loud  cheers  the 
Kashmir  troops  rushed  up  to  the  now  vacant  breast- 
works to  fire  and  cheer  at  the  fleeing  tribesmen. 

But  attacking  hillmen  is  like  cutting  water,  as  Yar 


DEFEAT  269 

Khan  knew,  as  Salabat  Khan  should  have  known,  and 
as  David  had  to  learn.  Not  three  hundred  yards 
further  on,  down  a  slight  slope  and  up  another  rise  was 
another  ridge  covered  in  boulder  and  undergrowth. 
The  fleeing  standards  were  again  raised  thereon,  and 
the  tom-toms  slightly  more  distant  recommenced  their 
defiant  throbbing.  The  tribesmen  had  left  perhaps  a 
dozen  dead,  and  had  killed  ten  of  the  Kashmir  troops, 
while  at  least  twice  as  many  had  severe  wounds,  both 
musket  shot  and  sabre  cut,  and  the  sabre  cut  from  a 
long,  cruel  tribal  knife  is  a  very  severe  wound  indeed. 
The  tribesmen  had  to  some  extent  been  punished. 
Twenty,  too,  had  been  killed  the  day  before,  and  whether 
that  was  sufficient  or  not,  it  was  not  possible  to  achieve 
more.  The  troops  were  tired  and  needed  water,  and  the 
day  was  wearing  on.  A  further  advance  only  meant  a 
further  unabashed  withdrawal  of  the  enemy,  and  it 
was  quite  evident  that  they  could  not  be  brought  to 
battle  on  even  equal  terms. 

Yar  Khan's  advice  was  wisdom  itself.  It  was  to 
withdraw  to  the  valley,  carrying  off  the  wounded, 
despatch  them  back  to  Baramullah  or  Bandipura,  and 
then  wait  to  see  if  the  tribes  would  venture  into  the 
plain  where  the  cavalry  might  have  a  chance  to  get  at 
them  again.  There  was,  at  any  rate,  nothing  more  to 
be  done  up  the  hillside.  Eeluctantly  Salabat  Khan 
gave  the  order  to  withdraw,  the  wounded  being  first  sent 
off  by  their  comrades  in  blankets  and  on  the  backs  of 
men.  The  men  under  David's  and  Salabat  Khan's 
personal  orders  remained  holding  the  breastworks  they 
had  carried,  while  the  wounded  and  the  dead  were  being 
carried  down  the  hill.  It  was  as  necessary  to  carry  the 
dead  as  the  living.  The  wounded  would  have  been 
mercilessly  slain,  and  the  dead  might  be  mutilated,  but 
at  any  rate  would  be  shameful  trophies  in  an  enemy's 
hand. 


270          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

When  the  last  of  the  bodies  was  removed,  David,  in 
accordance  with  his  instructions,  began  to  fall  back 
down  the  spurs  along  which  he  had  advanced.  Then 
immediately  the  spirit  of  tribal  warfare  was  evident. 
The  clansmen  at  once  grasped  the  situation.  All  along 
the  upper  ridges  where  the  banners  still  waved,  the 
tom-torns  redoubled  their  throbbing,  and  the  yells  grew 
more  and  more  defiant.  Here  and  there  a  leader  would 
rush  forward  with  a  banner  and  plant  it,  and  the  tribes- 
men would  then  rush  on  to  it.  Just  as  Salabat  Khan 
began  to  fall  back  to  keep  parallel  to  David,  a  red- 
bearded  moollali,  carrying  a  huge  green  banner  with  a 
crimson  hand  thereon,  rushed  forward  to  within  fifty 
yards  of  the  breastworks  the  Kashmir  troops  had  just 
vacated,  shouting  the  cry  of  the  ghazi,  "  Glory  for  all 
and  heaven  for  those  who  bleed."  With  him  and 
behind  him  rushed  a  hundred  yelling  devils.  Yelling, 
torn-toming  tribesmen  are  a  terrifying  sight  to  any  but 
the  best  troops,  but  Salabat  Khan  was  emphatically  a 
soldier  and  yearned  for  a  personal  contest  too.  That 
red-bearded  moollah  was  too  much  for  him.  Calling  to 
the  Regiment  of  Victory  to  face  about  and  follow  him, 
accompanied  by  half  a  dozen  of  his  own  entourage,  he 
went  bald-headed  for  the  green  banner.  The  Regiment 
of  Victory,  or  that  portion  of  it  forming  the  rearmost 
party,  to  its  eternal  honour  responded  to  the  order, 
faced  about  and  followed  their  leader  under  the  per- 
sonal direction  of  Yar  Khan. 

But  it  is  not  always  given  to  the  brave  to  command 
success,  deserve  it  however-so-much  they  may.  Ten 
yards  from  the  banner,  a  jezail  bullet  fired  from  a 
flank  struck  the  Governor  on  the  side  of  the  temple. 
His  orderly  on  his  right  spoke  afterwards  of  watching 
him  intently  as  he  advanced,  and  seeing  a  blue  hole 
slowly  appear  in  the  forehead.  The  tenth  part  of  the 
second  of  striking  appeared  to  him  as  a  slow-measured 


DEFEAT  271 

happening.    Salabat  Khan,  the  powerful  and  masterful 
ruler,  fell  crumbled,  on  a  patch  of  the  Prophet's  flower, 
just  as  Khar  Yan  led  the  remaining  men  close  up  behind 
him.    The  sight  turned  the  old  man  bere-serk.    Down 
again  went  the  green  banner,  down  went  its  followers 
before  the  curved  keen  swords  of  Yar  Khan  and  his 
avenging  troops.    A  few  survivors  fled  back  to  whence 
they  had  come,  and  once  again  the  Kashmir  troops 
occupied  the  line  from  which  they  had  withdrawn. 
But  there  was  no  time  to  lament,  and  no  time  to  gather 
breath.    The  tribesmen  had  seen  the  backward  move- 
ment.   From  every  spur  and  copse  and  thicket  on 
cither   flank  the  jezails  were   playing,   flicking  their 
hammered  lead  bullets  into  the  Kashmir  ranks.   Swords- 
men   with    the    inevitable    tom-tom    drummer    were 
creeping  up  in  knots  waiting  a  chance  to    rush    in. 
There  was  now  only  one  hope  of  salvation — to  get  off 
the  hill  as  quickly  as  possible.    Four  of  Salabat  Khan's 
personal  retinue,  the  most  of  them  wounded  themselves, 
carried  off  their  leader's  body,  and  behind  them  the 
Eegiment  of  Victory  turned  to  snarl  and  bite  back  at 
the  tribesmen  hanging  on  their  heels.    The  dead  and 
wounded  had  now  to  lay  where  they  fell.    It  was  enough 
if  the  living  could  get  away.    Behind  them  flashed  the 
relentless  swords,  and  rolled  the  exasperating,  madden- 
ing drams.    On  the  flanks  the  jezails  never  ceased.    At 
last  the  Eegiment  of  Victory  broke,  broke  badly  as 
sorely-tried  corps  will,  and  fled  down  the  hill  for  safety, 
away  from  those  biting  long  tribal  knives.    Yar  Khan 
and  half  a  dozen  of  Salabat  Khan's  personal  escort 
and  retainers  were  left  alone  in  charge  of   the  body. 
Fortunately,    however,    the    retreat    had   now    come 
within  reach  of  Tone's  artillery,  which  could  fling  a 
shell  and  roundshot  into  the  pursuing  yelling  hordes. 
This  enabled  Yar    Khan   to    bring   away  the    body 
without  further  molestation,  until  he  eventually  joined 


272          A  FEBELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

David's  party  slowly  falling  back.  This  party  had  also 
been  harassed  with  jezail  fire,  but  had  held  its  own  till 
the  flight  of  the  Eegiment  of  Victory  had  heartened 
the  tribes  and  freed  more  men  to  harass  him.  Just 
as  Yar  Khan  joined  him,  matters  were  getting  to  a 
head,  the  musketry  fire  was  coming  in  on  all  sides  and 
the  green  banners  were  creeping  in.  But  while  the 
Asiatic  plays  a  winning  game  best,  the  majesty  of  the 
English  comes  out  with  every  access  of  trouble.  Ee- 
gardless  of  the  hum  of  the  hammered  jezail  ball, 
David  stood,  a  commanding  figure  to  whom  all  looked. 
Jest  and  abjurgation  mingled  kept  his  men  steady. 

"  Ganesha  Singh  !  Ganesha  Singh  !  Look  at  that 
young  soldier  on  the  right  there,  hiding  behind  a  stone, 
I  do  declare  !  Oh,  won't  his  village  be  proud  of  him  ! 
Did  you  say  he  was  a  Eajpoot  ?  Ohe  men,  look  at  the 
Eajpoot  courage  !  I  see  a  man  with  a  carbine  over 
there  who  does  not  know  which  way  the  enemy  are. 
Smack  his  foolish  head,  Nihal  Singh." 

Nihal  Singh  sprang  at  the  delinquent,  and  his 
puggari  rolled  on  the  ground.  The  owner  forgot  his 
fears  in  his  endeavour  to  recover  it  and  wind  it  on 
his  head  again,  while  the  men  near  laughed,  as  David 
intended  they  should. 

"  Ganesha  Singh,  do  you  see  that  old  man  with  the 
red  beard  holding  a  standard  and  shouting  ?  Try  and 
hide  with  six  men  behind  that  rock,  and  let  him  have 
it  as  he  comes  on.  We'll  teach  him  to  wave  green 
banners  at  us  !  " 

And  all  the  while  the  men  were  dropping,  but 
cheerful,  with  one  eye  on  their  leader  and  one  on  the  foe. 
David  carried  off  one  wounded  man  on  his  own  shoulders, 
shooting  an  adversary  about  to  hack  him  as  he  lay. 
Steadily  the  Kashmir  troops  fell  back,  so  steadily  that 
a  great  wave  of  exultation  at  the  success  of  his  own 
training  swept  over  David.  Close  below  them  now 


DEFEAT  273 

was  the  gun  position,  and  before  they  reached  it  he 
determined  on  one  more  offensive  move.  A  fanatic 
attacking  is  a  very  different  being  from  a  fanatic 
attacked.  So  while  Yar  Khan  took  the  Governor's 
body  on  down  the  hill,  the  rearguard  faced  about. 

"  Steady  now  the  Ferassa  Rissalah.  Let  us  see  the 
Eajpoot  valour.  Show  the  Eegiment  of  Victory  what 
real  soldiers  can  do." 

And  the  Ferassa  Eissalah  yelped  delight  and  followed 
their  leaders  straight  at  the  swordsmen  who  looked  to 
serve  them  as  they  had  served  the  other  regiment. 
They  were  mistaken,  and  they  paid  for  their  mis- 
calculation. The  green  banners  streamed  back,  and 
the  rissalah  drew  off  again,  well  satisfied. 

The  gun  position  was  not  more  than  three  hundred 
feet  above  the  plain,  and  just  as  Yar  Khan  reached  it 
Habib  Ullah  rode  up  the  spurs.  Troubles  rarely  come 
singly,  and  especially  is  this  true  of  war.  His  news 
was  exceeding  bitter.  The  fugitives  from  the  Eegiment 
of  Victory  had  brought  news  of  Salabat  Khan's  death. 
Whereon,  without  ado,  Altamish  had  mounted  his  men, 
wheeled  about,  and  galloped  off  up  the  valley  in  the 
direction  of  Kashmir.  He,  Habib  Ullah  Khan,  had  not 
realized  what  was  up  till  it  was  too  late. 

Yar  Khan  looked  at  David  and  then  back  to  Habib 
Ullah. 

"  The  eternal  swine  has  gone  to  raise  the  Toorks 
against  us  and  declare  himself  Governor.  Salabat 
Khan  is  dead  and  gone  to  paradise,  and  can  no  more 
rule  in  this  valley,  but  no  one  shall  rule  except  myself,  if 
I  can  help  it,  till  we  have  the  Imperial  order  for  a 
successor.  But  there  is  only  one  course  open." 

"  To  break  away  and  return  to  Srinagar  ?  "  asked 
David,  eagerly.  To  him  the  safety  of  Miriam  bulked 
very  large.  The  old  man  nodded. 

"  It  is  the  lesser  evil.  We  have  given  these  pig  dogs 

T 


274 

a  lesson.  They  will  hardly  face  us  in  the  open  for 
some  time.  But  whether  they  have  had  enough  or  no 
does  not  immediately  matter.  The  one  thing  is  to  get 
back  to  the  city  and  hold  the  control  of  the  province. 
They  won't  follow  us  now.  Let  Tone  get  his  guns  down 
to  Gurais  Fort,  with  our  Governor's  body.  Habib 
Ullah,  you  must  cover  Ferassa  Sahib's  withdrawal. 
Look  sharp  and  get  the  guns  away,  I  will  settle  further 
moves  at  the  fort." 

It  was  an  hour  before  Yar  Khan  had  got  his  survivors 
together,  and  the  remnants  of  the  corps  reformed. 
The  enemy  had  followed  in  a  half-hearted  way  as  far 
as  the  foothills,  but  the  artillery  and  the  resolute  front 
shown  by  Habib  Ullah  and  the  Bodyguard  kept  them 
from  further  harassing  the  force.  Clear  of  the  hills 
Yar  Khan  was  able  to  review  the  situation  calmly,  and 
he  immediately  recognized  the  fact  that  he  must  get 
out  of  the  Gurais  valley  that  night,  or  run  a  fair  risk 
of  being  hemmed  in.  At  this  juncture  he  could  not 
afford  to  waste  troops  by  leaving  a  detachment  in 
Gurais.  He  must  abandon  the  fort  also.  The  wounded 
must  press  on  at  once.  The  dead  so  far  as  they  had 
been  recovered  must  be  hastily  buried,  the  broken 
Eegiment  of  Victory  must  have  time  to  cook  and 
recover  itself.  The  small  garrison  of  the  post  must 
move  off  at  once  with  the  wounded,  and  with  them  on 
a  litter  the  corpse  of  Salabat  Khan.  The  remainder 
of  the  force  would  move  immediately  it  was  dark,  and 
as  soon  as  they  reached  the  rise  up  to  the  Tragbal  Pass 
the  mounted  troops  would  move  on  towards  Srinagar, 
leaving  the  infantry  to  come  along  as  best  they  could. 
It  was  certainly  the  only  workable  plan,  and  might 
result  in  at  any  rate  saving  the  province.  The  orders 
were  soon  issued,  and  the  wounded  started  off  as  best 
they  could  be  carried.  A  few  of  Habib  Ullah's  men 
scoured  the  level  plain  and  also  kept  watch  on  the 


DEFEAT  275 

foothills.  The  troops  soon  settled  down  to  cook,  and 
Yar  Khan  directed  fires  to  be  made  that  would  burn 
on  round  the  fort  after  they  moved  at  dusk.  David 
spent  his  time  looking  to  his  own  men  and  horses  and 
heartening  up  the  Kegiment  of  Victory,  which  he  fell 
in  by  companies  and  drilled  at  close  drill  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  before  he  let  them  fall  out  to  cook.  It  was 
important  to  get  the  men  back  into  their  companies 
and  obeying  orders.  The  tired,  broken  men  at  first 
hesitated  to  get  into  the  ranks,  till  David  had  kicked 
half  a  dozen  and  reviled  them  heartily.  The  non- 
commissioned officers  then  heartened  up,  and  order  and 
discipline  soon  returned.  As  a  climax,  David  with 
Yar  Khan  nodding  approval,  put  them  twice  through 
the  manual  exercise,  which  they  had  been  taught  from 
the  Lille  "  I'Exercice  de  L' Infanterie"  called  in  tho 
French,  "  L'Ecole  du  soldat"  By  the  time  Les  armes 
presentee  was  well  done,  the  unfortunate  corps  looked 
once  more  as  if  it  belonged  to  an  army.  The  men 
broke  off  to  cook,  and  David  and  Yar  Khan  gave 
themselves  half  an  hour  to  rest  and  eat  also. 

Shortly  after  five  the  force  was  got  under  arms  again, 
both  with  a  view  to  moving  off  and  because  some  knots 
of  tribesmen  and  standards  seemed  to  be  coming  down 
into  tho  valley.  David  and  Habib  anxiously  watched 
them.  Were  the  horsemen  to  be  given  a  chance  of 
revenge  ?  It  almost  looked  like  it.  The  formed 
troopers  were  moved  out  of  sight  close  behind  the  mud 
wall  of  the  fort.  From  tho  stream,  away  half-right,  a 
little  dry  watercourse  led  towards  the  hills.  A  few 
briar  bushes  dotted  its  edge,  with  here  and  there  an 
apricot  tree.  Up  this  David  led  a  hundred  of  Habib 
Ullah's  men,  with  twenty  of  his  own,  dismounted, 
leading  their  horses,  their  heads  being  just  invisible. 
For  nearly  half  a  mile  he  walked  without  daring  to  look 
and  see  if  the  enemy  were  likely  to  give  him  a  chance. 


276          A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Then  he  halted  and  climbed  the  slope  of  the  stream-bed. 
Oh  !  kind  Providence  !  There  they  were,  nearly  half 
a  mile  from  the  hills,  moving  hastily  in  three  clumps. 
Were  they  going  to  attack  the  fort  ?  David  looked 
anxiously,  hoping  that  Yar  Khan  had  got  that  Eegiment 
of  Victory  into  line  with  the  muskets  loaded.  Then 
suddenly  in  front  of  the  leading  lot  of  tribesmen  he 
saw  the  bait  that  had  more  especially  brought  them 
down  into  the  open.  Three  figures  were  slowly  crawling 
along  towards  the  fort.  He  drew  his  spy-glass.  It 
was  undoubtedly  three  of  their  own  wounded,  probably 
of  the  Eegiment  of  Victory.  They  must  have  been 
left  and  been  able  to  crawl  down  unnoticed  till  they 
had  reached  the  valley.  Fools,  not  to  wait  till  dark  ! 
but  perhaps  they  had  guessed  the  force  would  retire. 
There  was  little  time  to  lose.  David  ordered  the  men  to 
mount,  and  eagerly  showed  Habib  Ullah  the  wretched 
three.  David,  with  his  own  and  thirty  of  Habib's,  would 
charge  the  first  clump,  Habib  was  to  take  the  one  a 
little  further  back,  the  more  distant  clump  must  wait. 
The  moment  the  troopers  had  scrambled  up  the  bank, 
David  showed  them  the  enemy  and  the  three  wounded 
men,  of  whom  he  could  now  see  that  two  were  support- 
ing a  third.  The  two  bodies  of  cavalry  separated, 
Habib,  riding  fifty  yards  on  the  right  rear  of  David's 
party.  Advancing  at  a  trot  for  the  first  hundred 
yards,  they  were  now  within  three  hundred  yards  of 
the  leading  tribesmen.  "  Yih  Hulla  ka  waqt  hai ! " 
"  Shout,  men,  shout ! "  The  whole  broke  into  a 
canter,  and,  yelling  like  mad,  boiled  up  to  a  wild 
gallop.  The  three  wounded  men  heard  and  looked, 
and  collapsed.  They  had  hardly  hoped  for  help,  and 
were  advancing  almost  dazed.  The  tribes  stopped  to 
look  whence  the  sound  came,  and  that  wait  sealed  their 
fate.  It  does  not  take  galloping  eager  men  long  to 
cover  three  hundred  yards.  Mad  desire  for  revenge, 


DEFEAT  277 

mad  yearning  to  get  at  a  foe  who  had  hunted  them  so 
in  the  morning  was  the  dominating  desire,  and  the 
yells  meant  fury  and  vengeance.  The  tribesman  is  a 
poor  thing  in  the  open.  The  thud  of  the  hoofs  on  the 
dry  plain  added  to  the  horror  of  the  vision.  Quadru 
pedante  putrem  sonitu,  quatit  ungula  campum !  The 
plain  shook  and  the  clansmen  shrieked  with  terror,  as 
David  and  Ganesha  Singh  struck  the  clump  before  it 
had  time  to  scatter.  Two  men  offered  fight  for  the 
last  time,  the  remainder  fled,  to  be  hacked  and  sabred. 
Habib's  objective  had  broken  up  before  he  could  charge 
home,  but  his  enraged  swordsmen  took  full  toll.  Through 
the  broken  ranks  and  back  again  they  rode,  till  the  only 
vestige  of  an  enemy  were  odd  scurrying  figures  nearing 
the  scrub  of  the  foothills.  David  stood  waving  his 
sword  by  the  three  wounded  men,  his  trumpeter  sound- 
ing the  rally  after  the  martoer  he  had  learnt  from  the 
English.  Gradually  the  elated  troopers  assembled, 
some  holding  their  adversaries'  heads  in  their  hands. 
Ee-forming,  they  returned  to  camp  with  no  worse 
result  than  a  few  cuts.  The  whole  force  was  waiting 
for  them,  and  it  was  a  new  spirit  and  a  new  pride  that 
met  them.  In  those  few  minutes  the  soldiery  had  passed 
from  depression  to  jauntiness.  Even  the  Eegiment  of 
Victory  believed  it  had  borne  a  share.  The  three  wounded 
men  were  brought  in  amid  cheers.  There  was  now  no 
doubt  that  the  force  would  get  away  unmolested. 

Yar  Khan's  wrinkles  actually  wreathed  into  a  smile, 
despite  the  bitterness  of  Salabat  Khan's  death. 

"  No  wonder  you  English  rale  half  Hindostan — you 
deserve  to.  Now,  get  your  horses  blown,  and  we  will 
move  out  of  this." 

By  ten  o'clock  that  night  the  force  reached  the  foot 
of  the  ascent  and  Yar  Khan  felt  that  the  Eegiment  of 
Victory  with  the  guns  and  the  detachment  from  the 
Lightning  Corps  could  be  left  to  make  their  way  up 


278          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

the  pass  bringing  Salabat  Khan's  body  with  them  to 
Bandipura.  He,  David,  and  those  whose  horses  were 
fit  for  it,  would  go  on  at  once  over  the  pass,  rest  at 
Bandipura  and  push  on  to  the  city.  So  under  the 
stars  for  many  weary  hours  that  body  of  horsemen, 
elated  yet  sore  at  heart,  slowly  climbed  the  hotal  *  and 
led  their  tired  horses  down  the  other  side. 

*  Mountain. 


CHAPTEE  XXVI 

BANGLES   RING  SOFTLY   AND   SADLY 

DAWN  in  Srinagar  on  a  morning  in  early  summer  is 
very  soft  and  very  beautiful.  A  sweet,  cool  breeze 
blew  down  from  the  mountains,  and  a  scent  of  blossom 
haunted  the  air.  Armande  du  Plessis  knelt  in  prayer 
at  the  little  altar  in  the  whitewashed  room  adjoining 
that  in  which  he  lived.  Prayer  that  peace  should 
reign  in  that  beautiful  valley,  prayer  that  blessing 
might  attend  his  work  in  healing  and  in  spreading  the 
gospel.  A  healer  of  bodies  he  had  been  for  many  years, 
and  there  was  yet  no  sign  that  he  had  healed  the 
minds.  He  was  old  enough,  however,  to  know  that  God 
worked  in  His  own  method  and  not  in  man's,  and  that 
the  only  command  was  to  tell  the  News,  which  he, 
poor  refugee  priest,  had  done  with  all  his  might. 

Then  his  prayers  ended,  and  because  there  were 
wars  and  rumours  of  war,  or  because  the  soft  breeze 
perhaps  blew  unrest  for  all  its  softness,  the  Abbe  went 
to  his  pallet  bed  and  drew  from  underneath  a  long 
red  leather  bag,  worked  with  a  silken  pattern  at  the 
edges.  From  the  bag  he  drew  a  shining  basket-hilted 
rapier,  and  a  case  with  two  small  pistols.  Wiping 
the  rapier  he  loaded  the  pistols,  looked  to  their  priming, 
and  then  placed  them  under  the  skin  rug  that  covered 
the  bed.  They,  his  Bible,  a  small  ebony  crucifix, 
and  the  miniature  round  his  neck,  were  all  that  he 

279 


280          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

possessed  of  the  old  happy  life  in  La  Belle  France. 
He  then  passed  to  the  tiny  mud  room  where  he  kept 
the  few  drugs  and  herbs  that  the  resources  of  Kashmir 
could  purvey,  and  which  his  extending  knowledge  of 
the  secrets  of  medicine  was  slowly  augmenting,  and 
busied  himself  in  making  certain  extracts  that  he  was 
likely  to  want.  His  day's  work  had  begun. 

Allah  Visayah  had  been  sleeping  out  in  the  latticed 
verandah  overhanging  the  Jhelum,  whose  sluggish 
muddy  waters  lapped  the  plinth  below  in  a  monotonous 
night-long  chant,  coating  the  old  carved  gods  on  the 
stolen  plinth  stones  with  a  fresh  coat  of  mud,  for  there 
had  been  rain  on  the  clay  hills  above  Verinag.  Allah 
Visayah  was  tired,  and  had  meant  to  sleep  late,  after 
a  long  evening  entertaining  those  officers  whom  she 
hoped  to  bring  over  to  the  service  of  Altamish.  But, 
just  as  her  servants  were  closing  her  outer  gates,  lo ! 
one  Wali  Dad  arrived,  weary  and  mud  besplashed,  full, 
however,  of  the  good  news.  He  had  ridden  through  on 
relays  to  Symbal,  and  had  come  on  in  a  shikara  by 
water.  It  had  been  necessary  to  admit  him  and  hear 
his  good  news  of  the  death  of  Salabat  Khan.  No 
fiction  this  time,  but  solid,  joyful  fact.  Allah  Visayah 
already  saw  the  Pampur  estates  standing  in  her  name. 
Wali  Dad  had  come  for  one  hour's  sleep,  and  to  ascertain 
which  Kommadans  might  be  looked  to  to  at  once 
declare  for  Altamish.  She  told  him  which  of  her 
friends,  chiefly  officers  of  militia,  could  be  relied  on  to 
give  up  their  trusts.  Told  him  also  how  the  Kommadan 
of  the  Lightning  Eegiment  at  Hari  Parbat  Fort  would 
listen  to  no  one.  Was  not  the  corpse  of  the  late 
Kommadan  still  hanging  in  chains  over  the  gateway  ? 
To  which  Wali  Dad  had  replied  that  he  was  now  as 
like  to  hang  for  sticking  to  his  master  as  his  predecessor 
was  for  deserting  him,  which  was  true  enough,  and 
the  Begum  grinned  thereat.  Wali  Dad  had  slept  an 


hour  and   gone,   and   Allah  Visayah  had   meant   to 
sleep  late  in  the  cool,  shady  verandah. 

Hardly  had  she  got  properly  off  to  dream  the  dreams 
of  those  who  are  on  the  right  side  of  the  fence  after 
all,  than  a  small  shikara  was  paddled  up  to  the  steps 
in  the  plinth  by  two  men  with  perspiration  streaming 
from  their  brows.  It  was  Peeroo  and  Pheroo,  and 
in  the  boat  sat  an  old  woman,  and  in  her  arms  a  child. 

"  Oh,  Begum  Sahiba !  Oh-e  !  Oh  !  Begum  Sahiba 
Darwaza  kohlo  jaldi !  "  *  The  Begum  drowsily  stirred 
and  stretched  and  below  the  child  wailed.  That 
caught  her  ear.  Surely  that  was  her  little  Dundoo, 
who  should  be  peaceably  asleep  in  the  Jhok  on  the 
Sindh !  She  leapt  up  wide  awake  now,  and  called 
her  servants,  and  then  threw  open  the  lattice  window. 
The  old  woman,  Dundoo's  nurse,  was  bringing  in  the 
small  child.  Very  small  and  shrunken  it  looked 
under  the  treble  muslin  wrapper.  The  Begum  flew 
down  to  meet  it.  That  child,  whose  father  she  could 
hardly  even  guess  at,  was  all  the  world  to  her,  more 
even  than  that  dream  of  the  Pampur  estates  since 
was  it  not  for  him  she  wanted  them.  She,  the  outcaste, 
who  dreamed  of  her  son  founding  a  race  of  landowning 
barons  ! 

The  boy  was  but  running  the  course  of  so  many 
children  in  early  summer.  It  was  the  mulberry 
season.  In  Kashmir  everything  happens  in  the  mul- 
berry season.  "  Jab  molbari  hoga  "  f  is  the  promise.  The 
dogs  eat  mulberries,  and  the  fish  eat  mulberries,  and 
the  bears  eat  mulberries.  Jab  molbari  hoga,  then,  is 
the  time  to  catch  fish  and  shoot  bears.  It  is  the  small, 
sweet  mulberry  that  grows  wild  and  forms  half  the 
hedges  and  the  avenues  to  the  roads,  not  the  great 
luscious  king  of  mulberries,  the  Shah-tout.  That 
only  grows  in  the  gardens  of  princes.  It  is  the  sweet, 

*  Open  the  door  at  once.  t  When  the  mulberries  come. 


282          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

the  sickly  sweet,  wild  mulberries  that  every  one  and 
everything  eats  at  this  season,  especially  children. 
Which  was  the  tale  of  little  Dundoo.  Too  many 
mulberries  added  to  hot  days  and  cold  nights  had 
brought  on  infantile  cholera,  which  would  not  yield 
to  the  old  wife's  remedies,  and  the  nurse  had  started 
to  the  mother  in  a  boat. 

Allah  Visayah  now  wholly  mother,  seized  the  little 
shrunken  figure  and  remembered  the  good  padre  and 
how  she  had  served  him  by  taking  in  the  leper.  She 
knew  where  he  lived,  and  followed  by  the  old  nurse 
and  Peeroo,  she  made  towards  the  Shah  Hamadan 
mosque,  past  the  little  old  burial  ground  and  a  skull 
that  half  stuck  out  of  a  grave,  straight  for  the  little 
mud,  whitewashed  house  of  the  Abbe.  The  Abbe, 
as  we  have  seen,  was  at  work  in  his  dispensary.  Without 
knock  or  call  the  mother  went  straight  in,  laid  the 
child  on  the  floor  behind  him,  and  threw  herself  down 
clasping  his  ankles.  Armande  du  Plessis,  who  had 
not  heard  her  entry,  absorbed  in  his  compounding, 
turned  round. 

"  Save  my  child,  Padre  Sahib !  Save  him  !  I  know 
you  can." 

The  Abbe  was  used  to  the  treating  of  sick  babies, 
and  the  case  of  Dundoo  was  clear  enough,  the  stains 
of  mulberries  on  the  child's  garments  gave  the  clue. 
The  opium  jar  was  the  obvious  resort,  with  some 
powdered  ginger  added  thereto,  and  while  preparing 
this  he  asked  for  news  of  the  city,  and  more  especially 
of  the  seat  of  war. 

"  There  has  been  severe  fighting,  and  a  disaster 
in  the  mountains,  and  the  Governor  has  been 
killed." 

"  We  have  heard  that  before,"  returned  the  Abbe. 

"  Yes,  Padrd  Sahib,  I  know,  but  this  is  true.  Salabat 
Khan  is  dead,  and  a  good  riddance  too." 


"  A  good  riddance  !  Why,  this  valley  has  never 
been  so  well  governed." 

"  Pah !  Folk  want  something  more  than  good 
government,  at  least  town  folk  do.  We  want  excite- 
ment and  display,  and  a  chance  for  those  that  are 
down.  Every  one  hates  these  solemn  Afghans.  We 
want  Persians  or  Toorks  to  rale  us.  I've  no  use  for 
this  lot,  and  as  for  that  stuck-up  Miriam,  I  should  like 
to  spoil  her  beauty." 

"  What  harm  has  the  Lady  Miriam  done  you  ?  " 

"  Harm  !  Why,  not  content  with  riding  about  with 
her  brother,  which  a  decent  woman  should  be  ashamed 
to  do,  she  goes  past  my  house  with  her  chin  in  the 
air  as  if  we  of  the  Thunbi  Bazaar  had  no  right  to  live. 
We  are  more  use  in  the  world  than  she  is." 

The  news  of  Salabat  Khan's  death  was  serious,  very 
serious!  Not  only  might  his  European  employes  be 
involved  in  the  slaughter,  but  what  was  to  become  of 
the  Lady  Miriam?  That  simple,  straightforward  girl 
had  found  a  very  warm  corner  in  the  Abbe's  heart. 
Not  only  had  he  detected  and  rejoiced  at  her  penchant 
for  David,  but  her  constant  questionings,  whenever 
they  met,  which  they  often  did,  on  the  Christian  faith, 
had  raised  great  hopes  in  his  heart  of  a  real  convert  at 
last.  For  years  had  he  sown  the  seed,  but  it  had  fallen 
by  the  way.  Here  some  unforeseen  breeze  had  wafted 
it  to  good  soil.  Always  dwelling  on  the  Christian 
ideal  of  women,  that  had  so  obviously  attracted  her 
from  her  first  contact  with  the  European  point  of  view, 
he  had  taught  her  much  of  the  Glad  Tidings.  He  felt 
that  Miriam  was  already  a  Christian  at  heart.  The 
fate  of  David  and  her  position  aroused  a  keen  anxiety 
.and  a  desire  to  be  up  and  doing.  But  this  woman 
knew  half  the  gossip  and  much  of  the  secrets  of  the 
city.  He  would  get  more  from  her. 

"  If  I  promise  to  save  your  child,  you  must  tell  me 


284  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

what  you  know.    Who  will  carry  on  the   Govern- 
ment ?  " 

"  Why,  the  Lord  Altamish,  of  course.  Already  all 
the  Toork  nobles  and  their  retainers  hold  the  town  and 
its  approaches,  and  the  khassadars  will  all  declare 
for  him." 

"  But  what  of  Kabul  ?  " 

"  Pshaw !  Kabul,  indeed.  The  empire  is  almost 
a  name  now.  Kabul  will  ratify  whoever  has  the  power. 
The  Toorks  will  gain  possession  of  the  Shergarhi  to-day, 
and  will  surround  the  Kashmir  troops  when  they 
return." 

"  The  Kommadan  of  the  Shergarhi  will  never  give 
up  the  palace." 

"No.  But  he  has  a  small  garrison.  Most  of  the 
best  troops  went  to  the  wars." 

"  What  will  become  of  the  women,  of  Salabat  Khan's 
wives,  of  the  Lady  Miriam  ?  " 

"  Oh,  the  wives  will  be  allowed  to  go  back  to  their 
families  probably.  Who  would  be  bothered  with  them  ? 
Some  one  will  carry  off  Miriam,  no  doubt.  Her 
brother  is  dead,  and  there  will  be  none  to  raise  a  feud 
over  her,  the  minx." 

"  Do  you  wish  your  child  to  live  ?  " 
'  To  live  ?    Ah-h,  Padre  Sahib  !  " 

"  Very  well,  this  child  will  die  unless  I  save  it.  It 
will  require  my  medicine  for  five  days.  Now,  under- 
stand me  very  clearly.  I  shall  not  make  that  medicine 
unless  you  help  me.  The  Lady  Miriam  must  escape 
with  me,  and  you  must  arrange  it  for  me.  No  need  to 
ask  why.  I  want  to  get  her  away.  I  shall  give  you 
one  dose  for  your  child  to-night.  I  will  give  you  eight 
more  powders,  one  for  morning  and  one  for  evening, 
when  I  find  that  the  Lady  Miriam  will  be  safe.  Now 
sit  down  there  and  think  about  it.  Here,  take  the 
child  and  rock  it  to  sleep.  See,  the  pain  has  gone." 


- 

BANGLES  KING  SOFTLY  AND  SADLY      285 

It  was  true  the  little  drawn  features  had  become 
round  again.  The  Begum  sat  and  crooned  to  it.  She 
was  woman  of  the  world  enough  not  to  talk  needlessly, 
and  at  once  set  about  thinking  out  a  plan.  The  Abbe 
went  to  his  bed  and  drew  out  the  long  rapier  and 
laid  it  handy,  and  then  went  back  to  his  dispensary 
while  the  Begum  sat  crooning  to  her  boy,  who  was  already 
asleep.  The  Padre  Sahib  was  clearly  a  master  of  life 
and  death,  and  must  be  humoured;  besides,  he  had 
the  power  of  witchcraft,  she  knew,  and  witches  must 
never  be  crossed.  There  was  only  one  way  for  him 
to  get  the  Lady  Miriam  away,  and  that  was  by  entering 
the  palace,  telling  her  the  danger,  and  getting  her  to 
come  out  and  away  with  him.  But  there  was  also 
only  one  way  to  get  at  her  at  short  notice,  and  that 
would  be  by  permission  of  the  Kommadan,  in  which 
case  he  must  be  told.  In  any  case,  what  did  it  matter  ? 
If  he  knew,  he  would  either  prepare  to  defend  the 
palace  or  give  it  up.  His  garrison  was  very  weak  ;  he 
could  not  do  much  if  he  did  resist.  So  cogitating,  the 
Begum  called  to  the  Abbe,  who  came  to  her  and  felt  the 
child's  pulse. 

"  Ah  !  he  sleeps  well.  He  may  recover  ;  if  he  has 
my  drugs  he  surely  will." 

"  Padre  Sahib,  for  the  sake  of  my  child  and  your  cure, 
I  will  now  arrange  to  help  you.  This  is  what  you 
must  do.  You  must  go  to  the  Kommadan  of  the 
Shergarhi  and  tell  him  the  news,  and  say  that  you  have 
come  to  lead  the  Lady  Miriam  to  safety.  If  he  raises 
difficulties  you  must  bribe  him.  Here  is  a  chain  of 
gold  and  turquoise.  You  shall  give  him  this  to  win 
his  sanction.  He  must  then  let  you  out  by  the  Eastern 
gate,  which  is  on  the  river.  I  will  have  a  boat  with  four 
rowers  waiting,  and  they  will  take  you  upstream 
towards  Islamabad.  The  boat  cannot  be  ready  before 
eleven  in  the  morning,  and  it  will  wait  there  till 


286  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

miduight  to-night  for  you.  I  will  put  food  into  it  for 
you.  Now  swear  to  me  that  if  I  have  the  boat  there 
you  will  give  a  fifth  man,  who  shall  be  in  the  boat, 
the  four  days'  drugs  and  he  will  return  to  me." 

"  Lady,  I  swear  it  by  all  I  hold  holy." 

"  Very  well,  then,  the  sooner  you  can  get  to  the 
palace,  the  better ;  and  I  will  now  take  home  my 
Dundoo,  who  now  sleeps  as  he  used  to  sleep.  Oh, 
Padre  Sahib,  I  will  do  all  I  have  promised,  and  much 
more  if  you  will  save  the  child." 

And  Allah  Visayah,  the  remnants  of  yester'eens  paint 
and  antimony  on  her  face,  and  her  hair  still  showing 
the  talc  powder  with  which  it  had  been  sprinkled, 
looked  nevertheless  a  woman  and  not  a  Jezebel  as  she 
gently  rose  and  carried  off  the  sleeping  child. 

Armande  du  Plessis  had  few  preparations  to  make. 
Under  his  white  cassock  he  strapped  the  rapier,  and 
put  the  two  primed  pistols  into  the  belt.  He  then 
put  the  Bible  in  his  pocket,  locked  the  door  of 
his  humble  dwelling,  and  called  for  a  sliikara  just  as 
in  Paris  he  would  have  called  for  a  fiacre.  Three  or 
four  public  boats  answered  his  call  from  the  wide 
steps  on  the  plinth  below  the  mosque,  and  he  at  once 
set  out  for  the  Shergarhi,  feeling  some  confidence  that 
once  again  a  piece  of  good  Damascus  steel  hung  from 
his  side,  so  persistent  is  the  old  Adam  in  the  holiest  of 
men.  Half  an  hour's  paddling  brought  him  to  the 
palace  landing  stage.  Tossing  a  cliilki  ru^ee  to  the 
rowers,  he  sprang  up  the  steps  with  the  alertness  of 
that  same  young  Abbe  who  was  reputed  one  of  the 
best  swordsmen  in  'Paris,  or  at  any  rate  about  the 
Court. 

Outside  the  palace  gate  was  a  wooden  pavilion, 
under  which  the  palace  writers  sat  taking  note  of 
those  who  came  and  went,  and  of  those  who  had 
business.  At  one  end  was  a  seat  reserved  for  the 


BANGLES  RING  SOFTLY  AND  SADLY      287 

commandant,  who  had  jusfc  come  down  from  it,  about 
to  go  inside  as  the  Abbe  came  up.  Knowing  the 
Abbe  by  sight,  for  since  David  and  the  Lady  Miriam 
had  struck  up  a  friendship  with  him  he  was  a  fairly 
familiar  figure,  the  commandant  stopped  to  see 
what  he  wanted.  After  greetings,  du  Plessis  craved 
a  private  audience,  and  Inayat  Ullah  took  him  into 
a  cool  chamber  adjoining  the  guard  room  at  the  gate- 
way. 

"  Commandant  Sahib,  I  have  come  on  vital  business. 
You  know  the  rumour,  and  I  believe  it  is  a  true  rumour, 
that  Salabat  Khan  has  been  killed  and  the  troops 
severely  handled." 

"  No,  Padre,  I  have  had  no  news  from  the  front  at 
all,  except  that  the  fort  of  Gurais  had  been  easily 
relieved,  and  all  is  well." 

"  I  understand  that  the  Governor  is  dead  ;  the  troops 
if  not  defeated  at  any  rate  severely  handled,  and  that 
Al  tarnish  will  at  once  declare  himself  Governor.  Also 
that  the  Toork  faction  will  prevent  the  troops  from 
returning,  and  that  the  khassadar  garrisons  will  admit  the 
Toorks  to  all  the  government  forts  they  are  garrisoning." 

"  That,  if  true,  is  very  serious,  for  all  the  best  troops 
are  away.  I  have  only  twenty  good  men  here,  the 
rest  are  Shapiyon  kliassadars.  If  this  is  true,  which 
God  forbid  !  I  cannot  hold  this  place,  nor  do  I  know 
for  whom  to  hold  it.  By  Imperial  custom,  the  Naib, 
that  is  the  Sirdar  Yar  Khan,  should  govern  till  the 
Emperor's  will  is  known,  but  Kabul  is  a  far  cry,  and 
if  Altamish  takes  the  government  and  makes  sub- 
mission to  Kabul,  I  doubt  any  one  saying  him  nay. 
Therefore,  too,  I  must  consider  my  own  position,  and 
the  lives  of  my  own  men.  I  must  either  give  up  the 
palace  and  ride  away  with  those  who  will  follow  me 
to  seek  fresh  service,  or  I  must  join  the  Toorks.  That 
I  would  not  willingly  do.  I  would  gladly  die  for 


288          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

Salabat  Khan,  but  not  for  a  lost  cause  when  the  master 
is  dead." 

All  of  which  was  a  very  just  resume  of  the  situation, 
as  du  Plessis  could  but  admit.  He  at  once  came  to 
the  point. 

"  I  wish  to  give  safe  custody  and  escape,  with 
honour,  to  the  Lady  Miriam,  with  your  approval.  I 
am  in  some  sort  her  guardian." 

"  Well,  there  are  the  other  ladies,  too,  who  must 
be  considered.  They  are  only  an  anxiety  to  me.  I 
will  make  a  bargain  with  you.  If  you  will  take  away 
the  Lady  Nur  Jan  and  the  Bibi  Alana,  too,  I  will  help 
you  in  every  way,  and  if  I  have  to  leave  this  will  come 
after  you  and  help  escort  them  to  their  own  homes  in 
the  Punjab.  Will  you  do  this  ?  " 

The  proposal  was  not  altogether  an  alluring  one, 
and  a  squire  of  dames  was  too  old  a  role  to  be  in  itself 
attractive.  God  knew !  he  had  seen  enough  in  his  time 
of  poor  ladies  wanting  safe  conduct,  and  if  needs  must 
he  was  ready  enough  to  do  it,  and  he  said  so. 

"  Good,"  said  Inayat  Ullah.  "  There  is  no  actual 
need  to  move  till  we  know  something  definite.  The 
Sirdar  Yar  Khan  and  the  young  Sahib  may  be  here 
and  able  to  keep  control.  You  had  better  see  the  Lady 
Miriam  at  once  and  let  her  tell  the  Bibis." 

Word  was  at  once  sent  up  to  Miriam,  that  the  Padre 
Sahib  wanted  to  speak  with  her  on  urgent  matters, 
and  he  was  accommodated  in  a  small  private  hall  of 
audience,  with  a  carved  grille  at  one  end,  used  by 
the  ladies  of  the  palace  for  such  purposes.  A  very 
few  minutes  and  a  rustle  of  clothes  told  the  padre  that 
some  one  had  arrived.  It  was  Miriam,  who,  disdaining 
to  talk  from  behind  the  grille,  opened  the  wicket  and 
came  into  the  hall. 

"  You  want  to  see  me,  father.  You  have  news  ? 
Oh,  bad  news.  I  know  it  ?  " 


BANGLES  RING  SOFTLY  AND  SADLY      289 

"  Lady  !  nay,  daughter  !  There  are  very  serious 
rumours,  not  yet  confirmed,  but  so  serious  that  we  must 
at  once  be  prepared.  It  is  said  that  your  brother  has 
been  killed  in  battle  with  the  tribes,  and  that  Altamish 
is  about  to  proclaim  himself  Governor,  seizing  the 
palace  and  forts  by  force.  Soldiers  are  few,  and  the 
militia  are  said  to  be  ready  to  join  him.  Indeed,  if 
your  brother  is  dead,  there  is  no  very  strong  duty 
owing  to  any  one,  and  unless  the  Sirdar  Yar  Khan 
can  return  in  force,  there  is  nothing  very  much  that 
any  one  can  do.  I  have  been  consulting  with  Inayat 
Ullah,  and  I  am  now  prepared  to  take  you  up  the  river 
in  a  boat  with  the  two  ladies  of  your  brother's  house- 
hold. There  is  no  one  else  to  do  it." 

"  Oh,  Padre  Sahib,  my  poor  brother !  What  of 
Ferassa  Sahib  ?  Is  he  killed  ?  "  and  the  voice  presaged 
utter  desolation. 

"  Nay,  daughter,  we  have  no  news  ;  we  believe  him 
well  and  Yar  Khan  also.  The  earlier  reports  spoke 
of  the  relief  of  Gurais  Fort  and  victory.  But  we  know 
nothing  yet.  You  must  keep  calm  for  the  sake  of 
the  others.  You  will  fall  into  the  hands  of  Altamish 
unless  we  are  ready  to  escape.  You  must  at  once  tell 
the  ladies,  and  have  them,  with  some  bedding,  ready 
to  move  if  need  be  in  half  an  hour's  time  at  most. 
When  you  are  ready,  we  shall  not  actually  leave  till 
we  have  information  of  some  kind." 

"  Where  are  we  to  go  to  ?  " 

"  You  must  go  up  towards  Islamabad  for  the  present, 
till  we  can  get  in  touch  with  Yar  Khan  and  Fraser 
Sahib,  and  cannot  see  further  ahead  yet." 

"  Oh,  that  I  was  a  man  to  get  even  with  that 
Altamish;  ah,  yes,  and  that  devil-faced  Afghan  who 
used  to  be  about  with  him." 

"  Ah,  yes,  my  daughter,  that  is  a  man  whom  even 
I,  an  old  priest,  and  a  man  of  peace,  would  fain  be 

u 


290          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

even  with  for  many  reasons,  for  many  reasons.  Now 
go  tell  the  Sirdar's  ladies,  and  may  God  in  His  mercy 
soften  the  blow ! " 

So  Miriam  went  away  sorrowfully,  and  du  Plessis 
returned  to  the  guardroom  to  be  near  Inayat  Ullah 
and  watch  the  situation.  There  was  little  else  to 
be  done,  however  so  much  the  spirit  might  fume, 
but  the  memory  of  the  sight  she  had  seen  in  the  fire 
before  the  image  of  Indra  held  her  a  nightmare. 
Daoud  Shah,  with  the  cleft  forehead  pacing  in  his 
garden  and  thinking  of  her!  Death,  rather  death  a 
thousand  times,  than  fall  into  his  hands! 

Armande  du  Plessis  watched  her  go.  "  Mary  !  Pity 
women,"  was  the  prayer  on  his  lips.  He  who  in 
Christian  France  had  seen  the  heart  torn  from  still 
warm  La  Lamballe !  Could  worse  befall  in  heathen 
India  ! 


CHAPTEE  XXVII 

TENDER   RUTH 

THERE  was  no  very  great  period  of  suspense.  Hardly 
had  the  Abbe  taken  up  a  position  in  the  guardroom, 
than  message  was  brought  to  the  commandant  that 
the  Lord  Altamish  had  been  proclaimed  as  Governor 
of  Kashmir  in  lieu  of  Salabat  Khan  killed  in  action 
with  the  tribes  of  the  Black  Mountain.  The  city  was 
in  an  uproar,  and  parties  of  Toork  horsemen  were  every- 
where. The  Treasury  guard  had  been  overpowered, 
and  a  Toork  guard  mounted  in  its  place.  The  Lord 
Altamish  had  returned  from  the  front  to  take  over 
the  government.  All  the  watchmen  and  police  in 
the  city  had  agreed  to  take  orders  from  him.  It  was 
now  close  on  eleven  o'clock,  and  the  Abbe  went  to  the 
Eastern  gate  to  see  if  Allah  Visayah's  boat  had  arrived. 
A  long-prowed  boat  paddled  across  from  the  opposite 
bank  as  he  came  on  to  the  parapet  above  the  gate. 
It  had  four  rowers  with  a  covered  curtained  sort  of 
deck  cabin  in  the  stern,  such  as  was  often  used  to 
take  purdah  women  about  in.  As  the  Abbe  stood 
up  on  the  parapet  his  head  and  shoulders  showing 
over,  a  fifth  man  sitting  in  the  bows,  stood  up  and 
salaamed  to  him.  The  Abb6  waved  a  reply.  It  was 
undoubtedly  the  boat,  he  would  get  an  order  from 
Inayat  Ullah  to  get  out  through  the  Eastern  wicket 
and  hold  converse  with  the  man  in  charge.  Hurrying 
back  to  the  mainguard,  he  found  Inayat  Ullah  standing 

291 


292  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIB 

at  the  gate  in  converse  with  two  messengers,  who 
presently  rode  away. 

"  Padrt,  those  two  men  have  come  from  Altamish. 
One  is  that  rogue  Wali  Dad.  They  have  come  to 
tell  me  that  Altamish  has  been  proclaimed  Governor, 
and  to  inquire  when  they  can  take  over  the  palace  ! 
I  was  more  than  inclined  to  give  them  a  rough  answer 
at  their  impertinence  in  assuming  it  would  of  necessity 
be  theirs.  However,  I  spoke  them  fair  and  promised 
that  I  would  yield  the  place  at  four  of  the  afternoon 
and  not  a  moment  before.  They  urged  that  they  should 
have  it  earlier.  I  said  they  must  fight  for  it  if  they 
insisted  on  that,  but  they  should  have  it  free  at  four. 
I  have  therefore  till  four.  At  that  hour  I  give  over 
the  place.  Yar  Khan  may  arrive  before  that." 

"  What  shall  the  ladies  do  ?  " 

"  I  should  say  that  if  nothing  happens  by  noon  that 
you  should  start  away  to  Islamabad.  If  I  decide  to 
leave  Kashmir,  I  shall  come  and  join  you.  Here  is  an 
order  to  you  to  come  and  go  through  the  East  gate, 
and  Allahdad  Khan  here  will  go  with  you." 

The  Abbe  went  away  to  the  East  gate,  stopping 
on  his  way  to  see  Miriam,  who  again  came  down  to 
the  grille,  to  say  that  the  ladies  were  ready,  and  that 
whereas  Nur  Jan  was  quiet  and  resigned  and  would  go 
wherever  wanted,  Alana  Bibi  was  in  a  furious  hysterical 
mood.  Du  Plessis  told  her  the  news  of  Altamish's 
proclamation  and  how  they  would  start  at  noon  if 
nothing  happened.  Miriam  promised  to  be  ready, 
and  the  Abbe  went  on  through  the  Eastern  gateway 
to  the  bank,  to  talk  with  the  man  in  charge  of  the  boat. 
As  they  approached  the  steps,  Allahdad,  a  huge, 
grizzled-looking  man  with  a  red-gray  stubble  of  a 
beard,  asked  if  the  Governor's  ladies  were  going  with 
him.  The  Abbe  explained  that  he  was  taking  them 
away  pending  help  from  Yar  Khan. 


TENDEE  EUTH  293 

"  Then,"  said  Allahdad,  "  I  will  come  with  you  and 
nine  others.  The  Lady  Nur  Jan  is  of  the  Chib  clan. 
Her  brother  is  a  baron  owning  lands  to  the  west  of 
Poonch.  We  will  help  you  see  her  in  safety  to  her 
brother.  We  will  ride  upstream  to-night  and  get  in 
touch  with  you." 

And  the  Abbe,  liking  his  rugged  old  face,  made  a  pact 
with  him  then  and  there,  and  told  him  how  unless  he 
heard  from  Yar  Khan  he  would  make  his  way  up  to 
Islamabad.  Needs  must  when  the  devil  drives,  and 
if  you  had  to  trust  people  it  were  well  to  do  it  thoroughly, 
with  an  eye,  however,  on  what  might  befall. 

Twelve  o'clock  soon  came  without  any  sign  from 
Yar  Khan  or  Fraser  and  Inayat  Ullah  urged  the  Abbe 
to  go  while  yet  there  was  time.  He  willingly  agreed 
that  the  Chibs  should  go  after  them,  and  added  that 
Allahdad  was  a  very  faithful  servant  and  an  old 
retainer  of  the  right  sort.  The  priest  and  the  soldier 
then  embraced  in  Afghan  fashion,  and  the  former 
went  to  the  ladies'  quarters  and  there  found  three 
veiled  and  shrouded  figures  awaiting  him,  with  three 
serving  women  carrying  bundles.  The  serving  women 
were  more  than  he  had  bargained  for,  but  as  a  query 
raised  a  fretful  remark  from  Alana  Bibi,  he  said  no 
more  and  the  six  women  scrambled  into  the  boat,  and 
squatted  inside  the  deckhouse.  The  Abbe  according 
to  pact  then  gave  into  the  hands  of  the  fifth  man  in 
the  prow  of  the  boat  the  bundle  of  powders  for  the 
Begum's  child,  and  bidding  the  rowers  lay  to,  stepped 
on  board  himself. 

Up  in  the  palace,  Inayat  Ullah  had  summoned  all 
the  troops,  the  Miassadars,  and  officials,  and  told 
them  how  Altamish  had  declared  himself  Governor, 
and  how  at  four  o'clock  he  would  release  all  men  from 
any  obedience  to  himself.  He  would  ride  forth  to 
join  the  Sirdar  Yar  Khan  and  seek  fortune  afresh, 


294          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

whoever  of  his  own  men  who  cared  to  follow  him  might 
do  so.  Then  through  the  afternoon  hours  he  sat 
in  the  bastion  above  the  gate  and  looked  eagerly  for 
some  sign  of  Yar  Khan  or  even  some  mention.  But 
though  now  and  again  dust  rose  or  parties  of  horse 
appeared  in  the  distance,  nothing  drew  near  that  could 
be  Yar  Khan.  Shortly  after  three  a  large  number  of 
Toork  horsemen  approached  the  gate  of  the  palace, 
and  with  them  rode  Altamish  himself  anxious  to  take 
up  his  official  quarters,  and  relieved  that  it  had  all 
come  about  so  peacefully.  If  the  truth  were  known 
Altamish  had  no  heart  for  more  fighting  to  his  own 
personal  hand  than  was  actually  necessary.  Inayat 
Ullah,  an  obstinate  man  of  his  word,  took  not  the 
slightest  notice  of  him  and  his  escort  till  four  o'clock, 
for  which  hour  Altamish  waited  with  such  patience 
as  he  possessed,  cursing  under  his  breath  all  tiresome 
Afghan  punctilio.  At  four  o'clock  there  being  no 
sign  at  all  of  Yar  Khan  and  party,  Inayat  Ullah  drew 
up  the  remaining  twenty  odd  troopers  of  the  garrison 
immediately  within  the  gate.  The  said  twenty  men 
having  all  signified  their  intention  of  riding  away  into 
the  world  with  him,  the  gates  were  thrown  open,  and 
Inayat  Ullah  sent  word  to  Altamish  that  he  might 
ride  in.  Hardly  had  he  done  so  when  a  sign  of  dust 
on  the  horizon  that  might  have  been  Yar  Khan,  was 
visible  through  the  gateway,  but  Inayat  Ullah,  a  man 
of  his  word,  sat  immovable. 

Altamish  rode  in  cautiously,  followed  by  a  couple 
of  hundred  horsemen,  though  before  they  entered 
Inayat  Ullah  led  his  men  out  lest  they  be  caught  in 
a  trap.  Without  more  than  a  passing  salutation,  he 
remarked  to  Altamish  that  the  palace  was  his  and 
prepared  to  ride  away.  The  dust  on  the  horizon 
changed  to  a  party  of  galloping  horsemen,  and  who 
should  ride  up  hot  haste  but  the  Sirdar  Daoud  Shah 


TENDER  RUTH  295 

himself,  and  with  him  a  score  or  so  of  wild-looking 
Toork  and  Persian  troopers.  Drawing  rein  at  the 
gateway,  ho  entered  alone  and  found  Altamish  at  the 
entrance  to  the  ladies'  apartments. 

"  Where  are  the  late  Governor's  women,  his  wives, 
and  the  Lady  Miriam,  his  sister?"  he  demanded. 

"  I  am  told  that  they  have  left  the  palace  some  hours 
ago,"  replied  Altamish. 

"  Who  allowed  them  to  go  ?  " 

"  Why,  that  palace  commandant  who  has  just  made 
over  the  palace  to  me  as  the  new  Governor." 

"  Has  he  had  the  impertinence  to  let  these  women 
go?" 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  that  I  mind.  I  don't  want 
'em.  Got  more  than  enough  of  my  own,  and,  as  you 
know,  Azizun  alone  is  enough  in  the  way  of  anything 
extra." 

"  Fool !  What  do  I  care  about  you  and  your 
women.  I  want  that  precious  sister  of  his  to  be  my 
wife.  For  what  else  do  you  suppose  that  I  have 
been  interfering  in  your  affairs  ?  Fetch  the  com- 
mandant back  at  once." 

"  You  won't  find  it  easy  by  force.  Perhaps  I  can 
get  him  back.  Here,  Wali  Dad,  ride  and  ask  that 
sirdar  to  return  here.  Say  that  I  have  that  to  speak 
of  that  will  be  greatly  to  his  advantage." 

Inayat  Ullah,  who  had  only  moved,  and  that  at 
a  walk,  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the 
palace  gateway,  turned  back.  He  was  not  really 
particular  with  whom  he  took  service,  and  was  quite 
open  to  a  tempting  offer. 

He  halted  his  party  and  looked  back.  He  then 
wheeled  them  about,  half  hesitated,  and  then  halted 
them.  That  halt  was  his  undoing.  Daoud  Shah 
slipped  out  with  his  men  and  rode  away  to  one  side, 
and  Wali  Dad  had  led  out  some  thirty  Toork  troopers 


296  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

on  the  other.  Inayat  Ullah  was  surrounded.  Fearing 
nothing,  however,  that  sturdy  soldier  of  fortune  rode 
up  to  Altamish  and  saluted. 

"  Your  Excellency  summoned  me." 

"  Yes  !    I  wanted  to  know  what  had  become  of  the 
ladies  of  Salabat  Khan's  household." 
'  They  left  the  palace  some  hours  ago." 

"  I  would  know  where  they  went." 

"  That,  Excellency,  is  their  business.  I  neither 
know  nor  care." 

At  this  juncture  Daoud  Shah  had  ridden  up  and 
he  sat  his  horse  as  men  sit  who  live  in  the  saddle. 
Fair  and  square  he  sat,  with  his  eyes  blazing  out 
from  under  his  fierce  lowering  eyebrows,  and  his 
forehead  knit  with  a  scowl.  Inayat  looked  into  that 
weird  countenance,  and  for  the  first  time  in  all  his 
life  shuddered,  and  with  reason.  Daoud  Shah  barked 
at  him  in  short  staccato  tones. 

"  Do  I  understand  that  you  have  allowed  the  ladies 
of  Salabat  Khan's  household  to  leave  the  palace  ?  " 

"  That  is  so,"  said  Inayat  Ullah,  his  temper  rising. 
Even  the  foul  fiend  himself  must  speak  civilly  if  he 
would  have  an  answer  from  him. 

"  By  what  right  do  you  dare  to  do  this  thing  ?  " 

"  By  my  sole  right  as  commandant  of  the  palace." 

"  Will  you  tell  me  where  they  have  gone  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know  where  they  have  gone,  and  I  should 
not  tell  you  if  I  did." 

Whereon  Daoud  Shah's  lips  curled  in  a  snarl  on  his 
set  teeth,  and  riding  close  to  the  jaunty  sturdy  sirdar 
barked  at  him  again. 

"  Then  take  that  for  your  pains,"  and  struck  him 
across  the  face  with  a  small,  heavy  mace  of  brass  that 
he  carried,  studded  at  the  head  with  some  set  stones. 

Inayat  Ullah,  taken  unawares,  made  a  feeble  attempt 
to  ward  off  the  blow,  and  fell  from  his  horse  half 


TENDER  RUTH  297 

stunned.  His  troopers  gave  a  yell  of  rage,  and  dashed 
in  to  help  their  leader.  But  the  Toork  horse  at  onco 
closed  on  them,  and  a  fierce  hack  and  slash  ensued, 
with  the  inevitable  result  that  four  or  five  of  them  fell 
and  the  remainder  broken  and  outmatched,  scampered 
away  with  Toork  troopers  after  them. 

Altamish,  rising  in  his  stirrups,  said  to  Daoud  Shah, 
"  I  would  not  have  had  this.  This  man  deserved 
safe  conduct." 

"  This  man  deserved  nothing  of  the  kind,  as  does  no 
man  who  thwarts  Daoud  Shah.  Your  revolution  needs 
anointing,  ah  ha  !  You  need  a  victim.  Never  should 
a  revolution  take  place  without  the  red  blood  flowing. 
Come,  now,  you  must  clinch  your  position.  I  demand 
now  that  this  dog,  who  has  stood  in  my  way,  be  blown 
away  immediately  from  that  gun  up  on  the  bastion 
yonder,  that  all  the  world  may  know  that  you  are 
Governor  and  I  am  your  wazir.  Nay,  my  lord,  will  it 
be  necessary  that  I  should  tell  you  once  again  why  you 
will  do  that  which  I  bid.  Surely  you  have  not 
forgotten  ?  " 

And  Daoud  Shah  looked  straight  into  the  eyes  of 
Altamish,  who  turned  his  head  and  said — 

"  Wazir,  let  it  be  as  you  wish." 

Whereupon  then  and  there,  the  wretched  Inayafc 
Ullah  Khan,  only  yet  half  sensible  from  the  blow  he 
had  received,  was  carried  up  on  to  the  bastion  and 
tied  to  the  gun,  which  was  loaded  first  with  a  double 
charge,  the  shot  having  been  withdrawn. 

Blowing  away  from  a  gun  is  a  favourite  Eastern 
punishment  practised  in  Kabul  to  this  day,  and  one 
thoroughly  understood  of  the  people,  as  a  sign  of 
power,  majesty,  and  dominion.  As  an  outward  and 
visible  sign  at  this  epoque,  it  was  no  doubt  a  desirable 
happening.  The  death,  too,  had  the  questionable 
merit  to  the  Oriental  of  being  instantaneous  and 


298          A  PEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

practically  painless.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was 
certainly  a  good  tamaslia,  a  good  spectacle  for  onlookers. 
So  several  willing  hands  bound  the  wretched  Inayat 
Ullah  to  the  gun,  and  the  method  of  the  binding  was 
this.  The  prisoner  was  placed  standing  in  front  of 
the  piece,  the  muzzle  pressed  against  the  small  of  his 
back.  His  body  and  wrists  were  bent  back  and  lashed 
to  the  tops  of  the  wheels,  while  below  in  the  same  way 
his  ankles  were  bent  back  and  lashed  to  the  bottom 
of  the  wheels,  the  victim  thus  being  as  it  were,  a 
spread  eagle,  or  a  Saint  Andrew's  cross.  All  was 
then  ready  for  the  sacrifice  to  a  relentless  vengeance, 
and  the  possible  need  for  some  sign  of  authority. 
Standing  behind  the  piece  stood  an  artilleryman  with 
a  priming  horn  and  wad,  and  opposite  him  another 
with  a  lighted  port  fire. 

One  moment  of  suspense,  and  then  the  new  wazir 
himself  gave  the  order  to  fire.  The  great  gun  roared, 
and  away  to  the  horizon  flew  the  mortal  remains  of 
the  gallant  Inayat  Ullah — butchered  to  make  a 
holiday  even  as  the  Romans  did,  his  poor  arms  and 
legs  dropping  back  to  the  wheels  to  which  they  were 
lashed.  The  head  blown  high  in  the  air,  fell  down  on 
to  the  floor  of  the  bastion.  ..."  And  none  so  poor 
to  do  him  reverence." 


CHAPTEE  XXVIII 

THE  STRATAGEM   OP  FEEOZ   TUGLAK 

ALL  through  the  night  the  wearied  horsemen  continued 
their  forced  march  from  Gurais  towards  the  Holy  City, 
and  by  the  small  hours  of  the  morning  had  reached 
Bandipura  at  the  foot  of  the  Tragbal,  by  the  shores  of 
the  great  Wular  Lake.  Here  happily  some  food  for 
man  and  beast  could  be  found.  Knocking  up  the 
sweetmeat-sellers,  some  jellabies,  tea  and  curds  could  be 
got  for  the  men.  For  the  horses  it  was  possible  to  find 
materials  for  a  pudding  of  flour  and  sugar  and  powdered 
ginger,  such  as  would  keep  them  going  for  another 
twelve  hours.  The  horses  fed,  the  men  swallowed 
what  they  could  get,  and  fell  asleep  by  the  roadway 
holding  their  horses'  reins,  too  tired  even  to  set  a  watch. 
And  David,  old  in  the  minor  truths  of  war,  saw  that 
it  was  wiser  to  risk  a  surprise  than  to  force  over-tired 
men  beyond  the  powers  of  the  bonds  of  discipline. 

It  was  therefore  David  and  Tone  themselves  who 
shared  the  watch,  for  even  Yar  Khan  slept.  Tone  had 
unwillingly  left  his  guns  and  his  treasured  Igd-i-gul, 
urged  thereto  by  David,  who  realized  that  the  troops 
alone  could,  if  need  be,  make  their  peace  with  the  new 
administration,  while  Tone  might  easily  be  sacrificed. 
It  was  in  the  hour  of  trouble  that  the  Irishman  showed 
especially  to  advantage,  and  as  he  grew  more  tired, 
and  the  men  around  more  dejected,  the  higher  rose 

299 


300          A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

his  natural  spirits.  From  three  a.m.  till  seven,  and 
not  a  second  more,  did  David  the  inexorable  allow  that 
bivouac  sleep,  having  dozed  but  the  last  two  hours 
himself.  Away  on  the  western  slopes  the  sun  shone 
merrily  across  the  valley,  though  Bandipura  still  lay 
in  the  shadows  of  Haramukh,  when  the  tired  men 
stretched  themselves,  and  demanded  more  tea  and 
curds  from  the  sweet-sellers  and  watered  their  horses 
in  the  lake.  Yar  Khan  was  about  in  all  his  vigour, 
and  in  half  an  hour  the  party  started  for  Srinagar. 
Wounds,  death,  and  broken-down  horses  had  now 
reduced  their  total  to  little  over  a  hundred.  The 
surviving  animals,  however,  were  of  wire,  and  could 
be  relied  on,  and  David  believed  that  the  men,  certainly 
those  of  his  own  rissalah,  could  all  be  trusted  to  follow 
his  fortunes.  Indeed,  he  felt  that  every  stout  heart 
and  trusty  sword  would  be  needed  if  Miriam  was  to  be 
carried  safe  out  of  the  turmoil  of  the  valley.  All  down 
the  slow  winding  track  from  the  Tragbal,  with  the 
tired  horses  slipping  and  stumbling  there  had  been  one 
echo  in  his  heart  and  mind,  just  Miriam !  Miriam ! 
with  a  plaintive  wail  in  tune  to  the  chorus  of  the 
slipping  of  the  horses'  feet  on  the  dew- wet  rocks.  Now 
as  the  refreshed  cavalcade  trotted  off  on  the  road  to 
the  city,  the  same  refrain  beat  to  a  new  tune.  The 
horses'  hoofs  rattled  and  the  accoutrements  clattered, 
and  the  sun  shone,  and  the  tune  was  a  cheerful  one, 
Mir-Mir-Miriam  !  Mir-Mir-Miriam  !  till  even  the  tired 
horses  took  up  the  spirit  of  hope  and  the  desire  for  action. 
David  and  Yar  Khan  rode  at  the  head,  and  talked  of 
plans.  They  would  get  to  the  Shergarhi  if  possible, 
and  join  forces  with  Inayat  Ullah,  get  the  garrison 
of  the  Hari  Parbat,  all  staunch  they  knew.  They 
would  make  Altamish  smell  hell  as  he  had  never  smelt 
it  before.  Some  must  swim  while  others  sink,  no 
doubt,  but  that  Altamish  must  be  brought  low.  What 


THE  STRATAGEM  OF  FEROZ  TUGLAK     301 

if  they  had  got  the  Shergarhi  and  carried  off  the  ladies 
or  refused  to  give  them  up.  Ah,  well !  there  would  be 
riot  of  chargers  and  revel  of  blows  with  a  vengeance. 
Tone  rode  up  to  join  in  the  discussion.  Could  he  come 
by  more  cannon  if  need  be  ?  Yes,  there  were  three 
good  pieces  left  in  Hari  Parbat,  and  there  were  two  in 
the  Shergarhi.  One  on  the  bastion  at  the  main  gate, 
one  in  the  godown.  Could  he  get  ammunition  for 
them  ?  "  May  I  be  damned,  rammed  and  crammed  down 
the  big  gun  of  Athlone  if  I  can't,"  said  he.  "  Give  us 
enough  force  to  maintain  ourselves,  I'll  fit  out  your 
cannon." 

So  full  of  spirit  and  hope  and  plans  they  rode  on, 
resting  their  horses  for  a  few  minutes  every  three  or 
four  miles  lest  they  give  way  altogether.  But  once  again 
the  race  is  not  always  to  the  swift  neither  the  victory  to 
the  strong.  Among  those  who  had  openly  joined  forces 
with  Altamish  on  the  occasion  of  the  memorable  garden 
party  in  The  Garden  of  Sweet  Breezes,  was  Feroz 
Tuglak,  one  of  the  "  Lords  of  Turan,"  lord  of  the  manor 
by  imperial  grant,  of  the  country  east  of  the  Jhelum, 
and  north  of  the  Sindh  between  the  Wular  Lake  and 
that  river.  With  three  hundred  horse  and  some 
khassadars,  he  had  been  deputed  to  prevent  any  of 
Salabat  Khan's  followers  returning  to  Srinagar.  Lord 
of  the  manor  of  Bandipura,  he  easily  made  it  his  business 
to  know  what  passed  there  ;  and  while  the  tired 
troopers  had  drunk  curds  and  slept,  a  tobacco  seller 
had  left  his  booth  and  taken  count  of  the  number  of 
troopers,  and  then  sped  away  on  a  pony  to  the  village 
of  Pulpattan,  near  where  dwelt  my  lord  Feroz  Tuglak. 
Now,  as  the  country  was  heavy  with  rice  cultivation 
and  marsh,  the  only  road  to  the  city  lay  through  that 
village.  Therefore,  the  Toork  had  arranged  cunningly. 
An  officer  of  his,  with  fifty  of  his  khassadars  armed  with 
matchlocks,  would  remain  hid  in  the  village  at  the  far 


302  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

end  of  which  would  be  a  barricade.  Outside  on  the 
village  green  his  three  hundred  Toork  troopers  would  be 
drawn  up,  awaiting  to  charge  in  and  to  close  the  exit, 
while  the  matchlock  men  harried  Yar  Khan's  force  as 
soon  as  it  was  well  involved  in  an  apparently  peaceful 
village.  All  of  which  was  simple  enough.  A  little 
while  after  ten  o'  the  morning,  the  advanced  troopers 
of  Eraser's  corps  came  into  the  village  and  cantered 
through.  It  was  a  longish  mud  and  dab  village  of  one 
single  street,  and  they  did  not  come  on  the  barricade 
till  their  main  body  was  well  involved.  Apprised  of 
trouble  in  front,  David  dashed  forward  to  reconnoitre. 
Then  it  was  that  the  matchlocks  opened,  some  one 
rolling  a  tom-tom.  From  every  house  a  long  barrel 
protruded  and  flashed.  Back  galloped  Yar  Khan 
and  Tone  to  endeavour  to  extricate  the  party,  the 
way  it  had  come,  only  to  find  the  entrance  of  the  village 
now  closed  with  two  bullock-carts  and  a  row  of  match- 
locks. Then  returning  to  the  front  they  met  the  whole 
of  the  Toork  mounted  retainers,  and  a  wild  fierce 
meUe  ensued — lance  and  scimitar  and  flint  horse 
pistol,  kicking  biting  horse  and  yelling  partisan  till 
there  was  an  inextricable  jam  in  the  main  road.  From 
the  roofs  matchlock  men  were  picking  off  the  Afghan 
troopers,  and  very  soon  a  house  caught  fire  to  spread 
furiously  in  the  morning  breeze.  Hell  for  leather  and 
devil  take  the  hindmost !  hit  and  hit  again  !  curse  the 
swine  that  blocks  the  way  !  Die  and  be  damned  to 
you !  Altamish !  Altamish !  Fateh  Afghannon, 
Ferassa  Sahib  ki  Jai !  On  the  roofs  of  the  house  that 
burnt  not,  the  busy  mockers  loaded  their  matchlocks 
again  and  again  to  fire  into  the  jam  of  Afghan  troopers. 
Many  of  the  latter  fell  to  be  trampled  under  the  horses, 
many  carried  away  a  matchlock  ball ;  but  at  last  Yar 
Khan  followed  by  several  of  the  harder  spirits  cut  their 
way  through  the  Toorks  out  past  the  burning  houses 


THE  STEATAGEM  OF  FEEOZ  TUGLAK      303 

into  the  green  and  then  galloped  away  down  a  side  path 
that  led  to  the  Jhelum.  A  few  hundred  yards  gone, 
he  pulled  up  for  the  dropping  horses,  and  waited  to  see 
if  more  would  join  him.  And  as  he  waited  he  bitterly 
thought  of  the  world  lost,  and  the  end  of  the  Afghan 
faction  in  the  province.  Nothing  to  do  but  to  set  his 
face  to  the  world  once  again !  He  had  done  it  often 
enough,  but  was  gey  old  to  do  it  once  more.  Gradually 
there  dribbled  out  to  him  thirty  or  forty  of  Fraser's  men, 
and  a  dozen  or  so  of  his  own.  The  shouting  died  away 
and  none  seemed  to  pursue.  And  Yar  Khan  turned 
his  back  on  the  blazing  village,  and  the  shouts  of  the 
villagers  fighting  the  flames,  to  head  for  a  ferry  on  the 
Jhelum,  across  which  he  would  allow  rest  and  sleep 
but  not  before. 

What  had  become  of  David  ?  Ah  !  that  was  the 
chief  thought  in  the  brave  old  mind  as  he  slowly  led 
away  his  weary  wounded  following.  It  was  certainly 
madness  to  go  and  look  for  him.  As  a  matter  of  fact 
David  himself  was  safe.  Eiding  forward  when  his 
men  had  first  reported  an  obstacle,  he  had  found  the 
barricade  with  matchlock  men  behind  it,  and  had 
galloped  back  to  find  himself  cut  off  from  Yar  Khan  by 
the  press  of  horsemen.  With  him  were  now  but  four 
survivors,  Nihal  Singh  the  duffedar,  Gul  Jan,  and  two 
Eajput  troopers,  who  had  been  forward  with  Nihal  Singh 
as  the  advance  points.  There  was  only  one  thing  to  do, 
and  that  was  get  clear,  so  the  five  turned  back  towards 
the  barricade.  Coming  down  the  street  towards  them 
where  a  dozen  or  so  Toork  troopers,  some  carrying 
lances.  Before  these  could  recover  themselves,  or 
bring  their  lances  to  the  charge,  David's  party  dashed 
headlong  into  them  overturning  two,  while  at  least 
one  head  rolled  from  its  shoulders  beneath  Nihal 
Singh's  practised  sweeping  cut.  Through  the  crowd 
they  dashed  on  to  the  barricade  to  find  it  only 


304  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

composed  of  thorn  scrub.  Straight  into  the  face  of  the 
thorns  and  the  matchlocks  David  led  them,  which  in 
itself  was  enough  to  paralyze  the  aim  of  the  muske- 
teers. Stirred  to  a  supreme  effort,  four  of  the  tired 
horses  leapt  the  barrier,  David  cutting  down  one  of  the 
defenders  as  he  did  so,  and  it  was  not  till  they  were  a 
hundred  yards  clear  that  they  counted  heads  and  found 
one  of  the  Eajputs  missing.  Alas !  a  musket  ball 
had  penetrated  his  horse  which  had  fallen  across  the 
barricade.  A  few  seconds  had  sufficed  for  the  rider 
to  be  knifed  before  he  could  struggle  free  from  his 
horse.  The  mercy  of  God  had  come  in  a  swift  end. 

It  was  no  time  to  wait  for  those  who  fell  by  the  way, 
and  David  preferred  to  put  four  hundred  yards  between 
him  and  the  hostile  matchlocks  ere  he  drew  rein. 
Slipped  from  their  stumbling  horses,  they  took  cover 
behind  a  clump  of  Lombardy  poplar.  The  roar  in  the 
village  still  continued,  and  the  flames  and  smoke  rose 
high  in  the  air.  Then  a  party  of  horse  rode  up,  and 
David  saw  the  barrier  being  cleared  away ;  evidence 
enough  that  safety  only  lay  in  flight,  and  for  three  more 
weary  miles  he  and  his  three  followers  urged  their 
flagging  steeds  to  greater  efforts.  Passing  over  an 
open  karewa,  and  coming  to  a  hamlet  it  seemed  as  if 
the  pursuit  had  come  to  an  end,  and  they  dare  halt 
to  give  their  horses  a  drink  and  buy  some  milk  for 
themselves.  A  few  minutes  for  thought  and  further 
plans  was  a  necessity. 

His  reflections  were  not  cheering.  Yar  Khan  and 
the  rest  of  his  followers  were  either  killed,  captured  or 
had  escaped  in  other  directions  ;  and  it  was  impossible 
to  get  touch  with  them.  Every  instinct  urged  him 
on  to  the  city  to  see  what  had  become  of  Miriam,  and 
how  he  could  serve  her.  There,  there  might  be  some 
troops  still  faithful  to  the  Afghan  ascendency,  and  if 
not  he  would,  at  any  rate,  be  able  to  do  or  arrange 


THE  STEATAGEM  OF  FEEOZ  TUGLAK      305 

something.  So  to  the  city  they  would  go  ;  but  if  any- 
thing of  use  was  to  be  done,  fresh  cattle  was  a  necessity, 
and  fresh  cattle  was  an  unlikely  happening.  Then  up 
spoke  Gul  Jan,  the  orderly  wise  among  men,  and  said — 

"  Your  Honour,  do  you  not  know  that  that  old 
Afghan  sirdar  of  the  Suddozai  family  lives  near  here. 
He  is  much  too  careful  a  trimmer  to  help  you  with  men 
or  anything  likely  to  get  himself  into  trouble  with  the 
Toork  faction,  but  he  will  give  you  fresh  horses  for 
love  of  Salabat  Khan.  His  residence  is  not  a  mile 
from  here,  and  this  is  his  land  we  are  on." 

So  as  David  knew  the  name,  and  had  seen  the  old 
man  in  durbar,  he  decided  to  clutch  at  this  opportunity, 
and  led  the  way  over  the  karewa  to  the  house  of  Sayad 
Ali  Khan  Suddozai,  a  cadet  of  the  clan  royal  of  Kabul. 
Gul  Jan's  acumen  was  not  falsified.  The  old  sirdar 
knew  more  of  David  than  David  did  of  him,  and  had  a 
genuine  affection  for  Salabat  Khan  and  all  who  served 
him.  He  promised  them  fresh  horses  and  spread  a  meal 
before  them.  But  their  demand  for  news  from  the 
city  he  could  not  gratify.  After  eating  it  was  decided 
to  rest  there  till  later  in  the  afternoon,  so  that  they 
should  reach  Srinagar  after  dark.  It  was  past  four  and 
the  shadows  lengthening  when  Sayad  Ali  woke  his 
guests,  and  announced  their  horses  at  the  door. 

"  If  you  want  information  from  the  town,"  said  he, 
"  you  will  find  that  Allah  Visayah,  the  famous  courtesan 
of  the  Thunbi  Bazaar,  is  at  her  jliok — my  boatmen  say 
she  came  down  by  shikara  *  half  an  hour  ago.  If  you 
ride  by,  you  will  get  news,  I  dare  say." 

Mounting  their  horses,  and  thanking  the  old  man  for 
his  kindliness,  David  rode  straight  across  to  Allah 
Visayah's  jhok,  on  the  banks  of  the  Sindh,  and  without 
ceremony  rode  up  to  her  verandah.  The  lady  was 
sitting  outside  nursing  a  child. 

*  Canoe. 


306          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

"  Tell  me  what  has  happened  in  the  city  ?  " 

Allah  Visayah  looked  up,  and  saw  a  handsome 
enough  man,  indeed,  she  knew  him  well  by  sight,  and 
all  about  him. 

"  Happen  enough,"  said  she.  "  The  Lord  Altamish 
is  proclaimed  Governor,  and  he  has  occupied  the 
treasury,  and  by  now  the  Shergarhi." 

"  What  of  Salabat  Khan's  ladies  ?  " 

"  What  do  I  care  about  them  ?  No  doubt  the  Lord 
Altamish  and  that  old  Afghan  renegade,  Daoud  Shah, 
has  them  by  now.  Men  said  he  was  to  have  that 
Miriam.  If  I  did  know,  I  would  hardly  tell  a  stranger 
either,  not  unless  it  was  worth  while." 

David  was  not  in  the  mood  to  stop  at  trifles. 
"  Dismount,  Gul  Jan,  and  come  here." 

Gul  Jan  obeyed. 

"  Take  that  child,  and  get  on  your  horse." 

Gul  Jan  again  obeyed. 

The  mother  sprang  fiercely  to  her  feet.  "  Give  me 
that  child  at  once  ...  oh,  sir  !  give  me  that  child  !  " 

"  I  shall  do  nothing  of  the  kind  till  I  know  all  you 
know  of  the  Lady  Miriam." 

"  What  should  I  know  more  of  your  precious 
Miriam  ?  " 

"  You  know  all  the  news  of  the  palace.  If  you  do 
not  tell  me  more,  you  shall  never  see  that  child  again. 
I  have  no  time  to  waste.  Pinch  that  child,  Gul  Jan." 

The  child  woke  and  yelled  with  pain. 

"  Oh  !  cease,  cease  torturing  my  child.  I  only  know 
that  that  old  Peringhi  padre  was  going  to  take  the 
ladies  up  towards  Islamabad,  and  I  lent  him  a  boat." 

"  Give  the  child  to  the  woman.  Here,  woe  betide 
you  if  it  be  false  news ;  take  this  gift  for  the  child,"  and 
he  tossed  her  a  small  chain  with  a  silver  charm. 
"  Get  mounted,  all  of  you;  about !  canter  !  "  and  they 
hurried  down  to  the  ford  on  the  Sindh,  and  rode  on  and 


THE  STRATAGEM  OF  FEEOZ  TUGLAK  307 

on    through    the    evening    towards    the    gardens    of 
Srinagar. 

A  couple  of  miles  outside  the  city,  just  as  the  sun 
had  set,  two  horsemen  came  out  from  a  grove,  in  which 
they  had  evidently  been  hiding.  Gul  Jan  recognized 
them  as  belonging  to  the  palace  guard  ;  and  calling 
to  them,  was  told  the  whole  pitiful  story  of  the  death 
of  Inayat  Ullah,  and  the  treachery  of  Daoud  Shah,  and 
once  again  David  swore  a  deep  oath  of  vengeanco 
should  opportunity  be  his.  The  story  of  the  departure 
of  the  ladies  with  the  Abbe  was  confirmed,  and  one  of 
the  two  men  offered  to  join  David,  an  offer  gladly 
accepted.  So  they  rode  on  till  past  midnight,  without 
going  through  the  city,  and  halted  for  the  night  in  a 
willow  grove  on  the  banks  of  Jhelum,  eight  miles  as  the 
crow  flies,  above  the  city,  and  half  a  mile  or  so  from  the 
high-road  to  Islamabad. 


CHAPTEE  XXIX 

THE   TEMPLE   OF   THE   SUN 

ABOUT  the  hour  that  David  was  escaping  from  Pul- 
pattan,  the  Abbe  and  his  novel  cure  were  paddled 
briskly  away  from  the  Shergarhi,  and  then  across 
stream  to  the  tow-path,  where  three  of  the  crew  had 
harnessed  themselves  to  a  tow-rope  to  proceed  steadily 
up  the  river.  The  noonday  heat  shimmered  on  the 
water  and  the  ripples  muttered  drowsily  under  the 
prows,  and  the  anxious  ladies  dropped  off  to  sleep  ; 
only  Miriam  coming  out  from  time  to  time  to  talk  with 
the  padre.  The  countryside  was  dreamily  peaceful, 
and  they  attracted  no  notice  from  the  peasantry  or 
other  passers-by  on  the  water,  as  they  pursued  their 
way.  After  some  hours'  steady  going  they  pulled  up 
under  a  chenar  tree  to  rest  the  men  on  the  towpath 
and  obtain  some  milk  and  fruit.  Eipe  baskets  of 
cherries  and  apricots  were  offered  for  sale,  and  the 
Abbe  found  himself  among  friends ;  for  an  old  lady 
on  the  bank  eagerly  told  how  she  had  been  to  Srinagar 
to  have  her  bad  eyes  cured  by  the  padre"  sahib.  The 
Abbe  made  this  an  occasion  to  buy  eggs  and  rice,  and 
lay  in  supplies  to  add  to  those  they  had  been  able  to 
get  away  with.  Then,  just  as  they  were  starting  again, 
Allahdad,  the  Chib  rode  upj  and  said  that  when  they 
had  left  the  palace  all  was  quiet,  and  that  he  and  his 
men  would  now  follow  the  towpath  of  that  winding, 

308 


309 

meandering  river  that  gave  rise  to  the  world-famous 
shawl  pattern.  They  would  ride  on  to  Bij-Bihara  and 
camp  under  the  chenar  trees  in  the  old  Mogul  garden 
there  ;  and  suggested,  that,  if  possible,  the  boat  should 
tow  past  there  at  night  when  no  one  would  be  about. 
That  should  bring  them  to  Islamabad  very  early  in  the 
morning.  While  they  were  holding  converse  a  dull 
rumble  told  them  that  a  cannon  had  been  fired  away 
in  the  city ;  but  it  was  not  till  later  that  they  learnt 
that  it  had  hurled  brave  and  faithful  Inayat  Ullah  into 
eternity.  They  were  fortunate,  too,  in  getting  help 
in  the  towing,  and  six  relatives  of  the  old  lady  towed 
them  for  twelve  miles  up  stream  while  their  own  crew 
slept. 

The  night  was  one  of  peace  and  bright  moonlight, 
alternated  by  the  passing  of  clouds  and  an  increasing 
apprehension  of  thunder  which  never  came.  But 
the  oppression  of  the  night  was  nothing  to  the  oppres- 
sion that  sat  heavy  on  Miriam.  All  the  happy  thoughts 
of  David  were  overpowered  by  the  obsession  of  that 
vision  at  the  shrine  of  Indra,  evil  enough  when  all 
went  well,  appalling  in  their  present  situation.  But 
at  last  the  night  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and  they 
arrived  without  adventure  at  Islamabad,  just  as  the 
early  breeze  heralded  the  approach  of  dawn.  Hero 
Allahdad  was  again  in  waiting,  having  also  hailed  them 
once  during  the  night  at  Bij  Bihara.  This  time,  how- 
ever, all  was  not  well. 

"  Huzoor,  we  must  be  very  careful,  the  folk  here  say 
that  Inayat  Ullah  has  been  blown  from  a  gun  in  the 
Hari  Parbat.  Half  an  hour  gone  a  mounted  messenger 
rode  through  Islamabad  proclaiming  a  reward  of  a 
thousand  rupees  cJiilki  for  the  capture  of  the  Lady 
Miriam.  Especially  had  the  messenger  sent  men  along 
the  road  over  the  passes  to  the  Punjab  by  Verinag. 
We  cannot  make  for  there  yet.  I  only  know  one  place 


310          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

where  your  honours  will  be  safe  concealed  for  a  while. 
The  three  ladies  must  come  with  us  across  the  karewa 
to  the  old  ruined  temple  of  the  Sun  at  Martand.  But 
the  fewer  there  be  the  better ;  especially  if  we  have 
to  take  to  flight  again.  The  serving  women  must  go 
back  to  Srinagar  in  the  boat.  At  Martand  we  may  lie 
hid  for  a  few  days  and  then  escape  to  Cheneni  over  the 
Banihal.  If  the  worst  come  to  the  worst  we  must  go 
by  Kishtwar." 

The  Abbe  spoke  for  the  party.  "  You  are  right 
about  Martand,  my  son,  I  have  often  been  there,  and  it 
is  a  lonely  spot.  But  can  we  get  food  there ;  and  how 
can  these  ladies  get  across  the  karewa  ?  " 

"  I  have  arranged  for  some  supplies,  and  have  here 
on  a  pony  enough  for  two  days,  Huzoor.  I  have  three 
ponies  here,  too,  for  the  ladies  to  ride.  If  we  get  off 
before  daylight,  no  one  will  think  of  looking  out 
there." 

"  Allahdad,  you  must  be  mad,"  broke  in  the  Bibi 
Alana.  "  How  are  ladies  like  us  to  go  without  our 
women.  Have  you  forgotten  who  we  are  ?  " 

"  Nahin,  Sahiba!  This  dustlike  one  knows  full 
well,  but  as  the  padre  sahib  will  tell  you,  in  war  and 
rebellion,  the  great  folk  have  to  shift  like  the  humble. 
If  your  ladyship  wishes  to  escape,  these  women  must 
be  sent  away ;  we  cannot  move  unnoticed  through  a 
country  with  unnecessary  following." 

"  Indeed,  Alana,"  broke  in  Miriam,  "  we  must  do 
as  this  good  man  says ;  we  must  let  the  women  go. 
You  and  I  know  well  how  Khanuns  of  our  families 
have  wandered  in  escapes  of  days  gone  by.  My 
mother  had  many  such  escapes  from  Balk  and 
Kandahar.  Indeed  !  Indeed  !  you  must  agree." 

There  was  no  help  for  it,  and  back  to  Srinagar  the 
serving  women  went.  They  had  not  heard  the  plans, 
but  lest  they  should  give  information  they  were  to  go 


THE  TEMPLE   OF  THE  SUN  311 

back  slowly,  and  Allah  Visayah's  boatmen  who  were 
to  take  them  back  were  told  that  the  party  were  riding 
across  country  at  once  to  cross  the  Pir  by  the  Shapiyon 
route.  This  would,  perhaps,  mislead  pursuers,  and  the 
sight  of  the  ladies  on  ponies  gave  colour  to  this  idea. 

Led  by  the  Abbe,  and  escorted  by  two  of  Allahdad's 
men,  the  cavalcade  filed  out  on  to  the  high  karewa 
hidden  by  the  maize  fields  for  the  first  half-mile,  and 
emerged  into  the  open  just  as  the  first  faint  flush  of 
dawn  tinged  the  mountain  tops.  The  wily  old  Chib 
then  paraded  the  streets  of  Islamabad  and  called  loudly 
for  the  village  headman  and  the  watchman.  To  him 
those  worthies  came  running,  the  call  of  armed  soldiers 
being  best  obeyed  promptly. 

"  Ohe  headman,  jee,  I  bring  orders  from  the  great 
Lord  Altamish,  chief  of  chiefs,  and  friend  of  the 
Emperor.  You  have  already  seen  our  messenger. 
The  late  Governor  is  dead,  as  you  all  know.  Know, 
too,  now  that  his  wives  have  escaped,  taking  with 
them  the  state  jewels  and  much  of  the  Emperor's 
revenue.  A  thousand  rupees  chilki  is  offered  for  news 
that  will  ensure  their  capture.  I  hear  they  have  gone 
by  Shapiyon  ;  but  you  now  go  and  spread  the  news 
in  that  direction  and  proclaim  the  reward.  As  you 
hope  for  his  lordship's  favour  so  be  zealous,  and  the 
tongue  of  good  repute  shall  be  heard  in  your  favour. 
Stay,  I  must  have  supplies  at  once.  A  bag  of  atta  and 
some  rice  and  lentils,  at  proper  price,  too,  d'ye  hear, 
master  headman." 

"  Noble  ressaldar  jee,  all  shall  be  done  as  you've 
ordered.  I  pray  you  stand  in  my  favour  with  the 
new  Governor.  May  a  wretch  like  myself  entertain 
you  and  offer  you  the  huqa  ?  " 

While  Allahdad  smoked  with  the  headman,  the 
troopers  lolled  through  the  bazaar  and  drew  the 
supplies  required,  gossiping  the  while  of  events  in 


312  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Srinagar,  and  how  the  change  would  affect  the  province. 
After  half  an  hour  or  so,  when  the  Abbe's  party  had 
time  to  get  well  away,  Allahdad  called  his  men  together 
and  announced  his  intention  of  scouring  the  Verinag 
road  for  the  fugitives.  Accepting  the  headman's  good 
wishes  for  their  success,  they  rode  out  towards  Verinag, 
and  behind  the  willow  groves  turned  off  towards 
Martand.  Half  an  hour's  canter  brought  them  up  to 
the  slower  moving  party,  to  the  Abbe's  relief,  since 
there  was  a  chance  of  meeting  strangers  on  the  road, 
unfrequented  though  it  usually  was. 

Now  the  great  Temple  to  the  Sun  at  Martand  stands 
four  square  to  the  breeze  on  a  lonely  upland  plain 
some  few  miles  inland  from  the  river  at  Islamabad,  a 
relic  of  the  old,  old  days  when  Hinduism  reigned  in  the 
province,  and  Hindu  kings  built  splendid  temples  to 
their  gods  ;  before,  perhaps,  even  Prince  Gautama, 
the  Buddha,  preached  his  great  reformed  faith.  High 
up  against  the  skyline  its  ruined  plinths  and  giant 
pillars  raised  their  heads,  clearly  visible  for  some  miles 
before  the  travellers  arrived  there.  They  found  a 
maze  of  ruined  courts  and  shrines  and  cloisters, 
fantastically  carved  with  images  of  many  gods,  spoilt 
when  the  notorious  iconoclast  King  of  Islam  piled  his 
brushwood  fires  high  against  the  carved  walls  and 
dashed  water  on  the  red-hot  stone  till  it  split  in  flakes 
and  its  beauty  could  no  more  be  seen.  Deserted  and 
imposing,  solemn  and  pathetic,  the  great  Temple  of  the 
Sun  stands,  even  as  stands  the  Temple  of  Baalbeck, 
where  the  people  of  idols  have  gone  down  before  a 
people  of  the  book. 

On  arrival  Allahdad  and  the  Abbe  at  once  set  about 
looking  for  quarters,  and  found  a  sheltered  court  with 
overhanging  cornices  and  some  carved  cloisters  that 
made  a  reasonable  shelter  and  ample  seclusion  for  the 
ladies.  A  separate  court  was  equally  suited  for  the 


THE  TEMPLE  OP  THE  SUN  313 

troopers  while  Allahdad  and  the  padre  occupied  a  small 
roofless  room  each  on  either  side  of  the  great  entrance 
looking  out  across  the  plain,  whence  they  had  come. 
Good  fortune  also  showed  them  a  store  of  dried  maize 
stalks  and  hay  that  some  farmer  had  stored  there 
for  his  cattle  perhaps,  on  the  uplands  in  winter.  The 
troopers  soon  collected  enough  wood  for  fuel,  and 
Miriam  set  to  work  to  cook  for  her  sisters-in-law,  who 
now  dozed  peacefully  in  the  cool  cloister.  After  they 
had  rested  awhile  the  Abbe  begged  to  have  converse 
and  Miriam  came  out  and  paced  the  courtyard  with 
him.  He  told  her  of  Daoud  Shah's  proclamation,  and 
she  shuddered  visibly.  "  Never !  said  she,  "  never 
will  I  fall  prisoner  to  any  man,"  and  then  unfaltering 
proceeded  to  discuss  possible  ways  of  escape.  Ferassa 
Sahib  with  Yar  Khan  and  all  their  horsemen,  where 
could  they  be  ?  Could  no  one  find  out  ?  What  was 
the  victorious  army  doing  ?  Had  it  been  destroyed 
when  Salabat  Khan  was  killed  ? 

The  Abbe  went  out  to  talk  to  Allahdad,  and  found 
that  he  had  intended  sending  out  two  of  his  men  and 
also  going  with  two  himself  to  Islamabad  at  different 
times,  after  dark,  lest  they  should  be  seen  coming  from 
bivouac,  to  find  out  the  news  and  get  in  touch  with 
any  of  Yar  Khan's  or  Ferassa  Sahib's  men.  It  was 
necessary  to  possess  their  souls  in  patience  till  evening 
and  watch  the  sun  move  across  the  heavens  and  down 
to  the  mountains  of  the  west.  But  the  peace  and 
soft  breezes  of  that  upland  haven  was  beyond  compare, 
and  Miriam  found  herself  sitting  with  her  Abbe  talking 
once  more  of  their  trouble,  and  learning  from  his  lips 
the  Christian  view  of  death  and  resurrection  and  the 
doctrine  of  The  Atonement.  And  a  very  beautiful 
faith  for  weary  souls  it  all  sounded,  delivered  softly  in 
the  subdued  earnest  tones  and  musical  words  of  Jean 
du  Plessis.  And  ever  and  anon  it  was  on  the  tip  of 


314  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Miriam's  lips  to  ask  how  she  might  be  of  the  faith  of 
those  who  loved  pity  for  pity's  sake,  and  whose  God  was 
a  God  of  Justice  and  of  Mercy.  But  always  the 
instinct  born  of  many  generations  that  a  woman  had 
no  real  part  in  the  faith  of  the  world,  held  her  bound, 
while  the  Abbe  thought  that  the  hour  to  pick  the  ripe 
fruit  had  hardly  come.  But  they  talked  on  far  into 
the  beautiful  cool  night,  and  when  Miriam  went  to 
bed  she  went  firm  in  the  feeling  that  all  the  world  lies 
in  the  hands  of  Providence  and  that  not  a  sparrow  falls 
to  the  ground  unnoticed. 

The  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  before  the  tired 
and  anxious  ladies  rose  from  their  blankets  spread  on 
grass,  and  Miriam  looked  out  to  see  if  the  padre  was 
visible.  Not  seeing  him  in  the  inner  cloister  she 
ventured  out  into  the  central  ruined  court,  and  saw 
him  with  several  of  the  Chib  troopers  with  their  arms, 
anxiously  looking  towards  Islamabad.  Through  the 
high  porch  she  could  see  a  party  of  horsemen  advancing, 
and  stayed  eagerly  to  see  what  might  befall.  It  was 
not  long  before  one  of  them,  soon  recognized  to  be 
Allahdad  Khan,  detached  himself  from  the  others 
and  galloped  up  to  the  ruin.  The  party  consisted  of 
no  less  than  David  himself  with  his  four  companions, 
whom  Allahdad's  patrol  had  met  riding  into  Islamabad. 
David  had  recognized  the  Chibs  of  the  palace  guard  and 
had  eagerly  asked  for  news  of  Miriam,  and  they  recog- 
nizing him  also,  had  gladly  offered  to  lead  him  to  the 
refugees.  From  the  Chibs  he  had  heard  of  Daoud 
Shah's  proclamation  and  ground  his  teeth  thereat. 
On  arriving  at  the  temple  the  troopers  went  off  to  the 
troopers'  court,  and  the  Abbe  led  David  to  a  secluded 
spot  to  discuss  and  hear  what  the  situation  might  be 
before  he  ascertained  if  the  ladies  would  see  him. 

"  I  must  see  the  Lady  Miriam,  father,  at  any  rate. 
Will  she  see  me  ?  " 


THE  TEMPLE  OF  THE  SUN  815 

"  Eemain  here,  my  son,  and  I  will  see." 

And  in  a  minute  or  two  the  impatient  David  saw  her 
slender  active  form  come  across  the  plinth  and  turn 
into  his  court.  He  stepped  out  of  the  shadow  of  the 
wall  and  ran  towards  her.  She  would  have  eagerly 
greeted  him  ceremoniously,  but  he  would  have  none 
of  it. 

"  Nay,  dearest,  this  is  no  time  for  ceremony.  Here 
on  my  shoulder  after  the  manner  of  the  English." 

And  beautiful,  reserved  Miriam  allowed  herself  to 
be  folded  in  her  lover's  arms,  as  her  English  sisters  would 
have  done,  trembling  yet  happy  and  at  peace.  After 
a  few  minutes  of  happy  silence,  David  sat  her  down  on 
a  fallen  block  of  stone,  and  told  her  gently  the  story 
of  her  brother's  death  and  the  weary  return,  with  the 
final  debacle  at  Pulpattan,  the  rise  of  Altamish  and  the 
cruel  death  of  Inayat  Ullah.  Miriam  wept  quietly  for  a 
few  minutes,  for  the  first  time  since  they  were  first  hurried 
from  their  security  in  the  Shergarhi.  The  high  spirit 
soon  returned,  however,  youth  and  health  and  strength 
added  to  the  all-powerful  effect  of  love  soon  dry  the 
eyes  of  sorrow.  They  then  talked  of  Yar  Khan  and  the 
possibility  of  his  escape  with  poor  Tone  the  artillery- 
man, and  then  of  the  ladies  and  their  future.  The 
Lady  Nur  Jan  they  could  soon  perhaps  convoy  safely 
to  her  own  home,  but  Alana  Bibi  came  from  near 
Mooltan  and  was  an  Alisherzai  of  the  great  Duranni 
clan.  To  get  her  there  would  be  a  difficulty.  Perhaps 
it  would  be  possible  to  leave  her  with  Nur  Jan  till 
something  could  be  arranged.  Then  came  the  case 
of  Miriam  herself,  and  the  unthinkable  intentions  of 
Daoud  Shah.  At  mention  of  these  Miriam  once  more 
nestled  close  to  her  lover,  and  his  heart  glowed  again 
at  the  sense  of  protection  that  the  action  invoked. 
And  as  she  nestled,  a  very  different  being  from  the 
somewhat  masterful  young  lady  who  had  ridden  with 


816          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

him  over  the  Pir  from  Baramgalla,  an  inspiration  came 
to  him.  Would  she  marry  him  then  and  there,  the 
padre  would  perform  the  ceremony,  and  then  Daoud 
Shah  would  have  a  different  problem  before  him. 

To  Miriam,  sudden  though  the  proposal  was,  the 
great  boulversement  of  her  affairs  had  so  changed  her 
mental  outlook,  that  nothing  seemed  unusual  or  out 
of  place.  She  was  quite  prepared  to  do  as  David 
wished.  He,  the  inspiration  surging  in  his  head, 
wrecking  little  of  legal  or  religious  difficulties,  left  her 
in  the  court  to  look  for  the  Abbe.  Jean  du  Plessis  was 
pacing  the  central  court  deep  in  thought,  pondering 
the  news  he  had  received  in  full  from  David's  com- 
panions, of  the  defeat  at  Pulpattan.  If  Yar  Khan  was 
killed,  farewell  all  hope  for  the  Afghan  faction.  If  he 
lived  and  could  get  back  to  the  troops  returning  from 
Gurais,  there  was  a  chance  at  any  rate  of  an  internecine 
struggle  in  the  valley.  The  revolution,  however,  was 
too  complete  to  make  it  fitting  that  there  should  be 
a  struggle.  The  province  wanted  peace  and  govern- 
ment and  had  a  right  to  get  it.  Granted  that  Altamish 
governed  fairly  the  change  did  not  so  very  much 
matter,  though  Salabat  Khan  had  been  a  ruler,  such 
as  Eastern  provinces  rarely  come  by.  As  he  mused 
the  eager  David  broke  in  on  him. 

"  Father!  father!  I  want  you  to  marry  me  and  the 
Lady  Miriam,  it  is  the  only  way  to  protect  her  against 
Daoud  Shah." 

"  My  son,  it  will  take  much  to  protect  against  that 
evil  being.  Please  God  we  shall  be  able  to  do  it.  But 
how  can  I  marry  you  ?  I  am  a  Catholic  priest,  you  are 
a  presbyterian,  a  heretic  in  the  eyes  of  my  Church. 
She  is  a  Mussalmani.  There  is  no  connection  at  all, 
that  I  can  have  in  the  matter  as  a  priest." 

"  But  you  are  a  Christian  and  can  marry  people." 

"  I  am  a  Christian,  and  so  are  you ;   but  I  am  no 


THE  TEMPLE   OF  THE  SUN  317 

priest  to  you,  and  such  as  you  by  any  ecclesiastical 
canon  that  will  make  it  possible  for  me  to  marry  you." 
"  Is  there  no  way  in  which  it  would  be  possible  for 
you  to  marry  us  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  feasible  if  the  Lady  Miriam  were  a 
Catholic.  It  is  true  the  marriage  could  not  be  strictly 
legal,  for  I  am  here  under  no  ecclesiastical  rule,  and 
have  no  proper  authority ;  but  it  would  make  the 
marriage  legal  enough  for  you  to  get  it  duly  ratified 
hereafter." 

"  But  is  it  possible  for  the  Lady  Miriam  to  be 
baptized  ?  " 

"It  is  feasible  should   she  wish  it ;    and  should  I 
consider  that  she  has  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the 
Christian  Faith  to  justify  me  baptizing  her." 
"  Has  she  sufficient  knowledge,  father  ?  " 
"  She  has,  my  son." 

"  Then  did  she  ask  you  to  baptize  her,  you  would 
feel  justified  in  so  doing  ?  " 
"  I  should,  my  son." 

"  Do  you  approve  of  our  marriage  suppose  such  were 
possible  ?  " 

"  My  son,  I  have  a  great  affection  for  the  Lady 
Miriam,  never  have  I  known  a  truer  heart ;  and 
believe  me,  my  son,  I  have  seen  much  of  women,  of 
all  classes  and  many  races.  I  have  also  a  regard  for 
you,  as  a  brave  God-fearing  man.  I  would  rather  see 
the  Lady  Miriam  married  to  you  than  to  any  man. 
I  can  say  no  more." 

"  Can  you  suggest  to  her  that  she  be  baptized  ?  " 
"  I  can  hardly  do  that,  the  request  must  come  from 
her  in  all  genuineness." 

"  Then,  father,  I  must  see  if  I  can  suggest  it  to  her." 

And  the  Abbe  resumed  his  pacing,  by  no  means 

perturbed  at  a  request  which  as  a  matter  of  fact  he  had 

anticipated  in  some  form  for  many  weeks.    He  was 


318  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIE 

more  immediately  concerned  with  how  to  get  the 
women  away  married  or  unmarried.  Then  it  was  it 
occurred  to  him  that  he  might  go  talk  with  the  widows 
in  their  court  to  which  he  moved,  craving  permission 
to  enter  which  after  some  scurrying  was  accorded  him. 
Lifting  the  big  silk  shawl  that  then  had  hung  over  the 
ruined  doorway,  he  found  the  two  ladies  awaiting 
him.  He  first  told  them  of  the  arrival  of  David  and 
of  the  fight  in  which  Yar  Khan's  force  had  been  dissi- 
pated. Then  he  dwelt  on  Daoud  Shah's  search  for 
Miriam,  and  his  obvious  intentions  towards  her,  at 
which  the  two  ladies  who  now  lent  much  on  her  were 
aghast.  Then  he  spoke  of  the  great  subject,  of  David's 
wish  to  marry  her  and  their  betrothal.  The  ladies 
were  interested  intensely  ;  but  wondered  how  it  could 
be  arranged.  The  patient  Abbe  gradually  worked  up 
to  his  point.  He  could  marry  them  were  Miriam  a 
Christian,  and  dwelt  on  the  great  support  David,  with 
his  English  connection,  would  be  to  them,  in  their 
widowed  state.  Alana  Bibi  clinched  matters,  "  In 
the  Prophet's  name  then  baptize  the  lass  and  marry 
her,  and  let's  ha'  done  with  it.  In  my  young  days  a 
man  would  ha'  carried  her  off  and  no  questions  asked. 
Women  who  have  no  souls  may  be  Mussalmani  or 
Christian,  and  no  one  a  penny  the  worse." 

The  gentle  Nur  Jan,  put  her  hand  on  the  Abbe's 
arm  and  said — 

"  I  have  heard  much  at  times  of  your  faith,  and  the 
lot  of  Christian  ladies.  Baptize  our  Miriam,  and  marry 
her  to  Ferassa  Sahib.  We  know  that  his  mother  was  a 
Duranni,  too." 

The  Abbe  reassured  by  their  goodwill  returned  to 
the  main  court;  and  there  found  Miriam  waiting  for 
him,  and  very  gentle  and  sweet  and  humble  he  found 
her. 

"  Father !    Is  it  true  what  Ferassa  Sahib  tells  me, 


THE  TEMPLE  OF  THE  SUN  319 

that  if  I  wish  you  will  baptize  me,  and  that  were  I 
baptized  you  could  marry  me  to  him  by  the  Christian 
rite  ?  'Tis  a  fine  thing  for  a  maiden  thus  to  talk  of  her 
marriage  !  but  everything  seems  upside  down." 

"  Daughter,  I  would  willingly  baptize  you,  for  I 
believe  that  you  are  really  a  believer  in  all  the  faith  of 
the  Christians,  and  really  long  to  serve  the  Son  of 
Man.  But  I  must  first  satisfy  myself  on  certain  points 
without  which  it  would  not  be  lawful  that  I  should 
baptize  you,  and  then  I  will  right  willingly  marry 
you  to  Ferassa  Sahib,  because  I  believe  him  to  be 
worthy  of  you  and  able  to  protect  you." 

So  it  came  about  that  Jean  Armande  St.  Hilaire  du 
Plessis  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  walked  in  the  ruined 
cloisters  of  the  Temple  of  the  Sun,  holding  high 
converse  with  a  catechumen  he  was  about  to  baptize, 
while  outside  the  dry  grass  on  the  karewa  shimmered 
in  the  midday  sun. 

In  the  space  of  the  great  inner  court  they  walked, 
up  and  down  on  the  untrod  grass,  till  suddenly  they 
became  aware  of  two  figures  who  watched  them  from 
the  deep  shade  of  a  cloister  wall.  One  was  tall  and 
thin,  clothed  in  yellow  robe,  the  other  a  veiled  figure 
of  a  woman.  The  tall  figure  stepped  forward  towards 
the  Abbe,  and  the  two  looked  into  one  another's  faces. 
The  swami  and  the  padre  had  such  in  common.  The 
dark,  sad  eyes  of  the  former  were  set  like  those  of  the 
priest  in  a  thousand  wrinkles,  and  each  bore  the  stamp 
of  peace  on  his  brow,  as  men  who  held  the  keys  of 
all  the  creeds.  Instinctively  the  two  exchanged  greet- 
ings, and  the  swami  spoke,  as  one  master  to  another. 

"  From  the  East  to  the  West,  in  friendliness  and  in 
sympathy.  I  have  come  intruding  where  I  have  no 
concern,  at  the  request  of  my  companion,  to  offer  the 
Lady  Miriam  sanctuary  in  my  garden  of  the  shrine 
till  these  troublous  times  be  past." 


320          A  FBEELANCE  IN   KASHMIR 

The  Abbe  bowed  his  head. 

"  Azizun  here  believes  the  Lady  Miriam  to  be  in 
great  danger,  and  praying  me  to  help,  has  brought 
me  in  her  boat.  That  boat  can  pass  down  the  river 
unmolested.  She  has  the  pass  of  the  new  Governor  of 
the  province." 

Azizun  had  gone  over  to  Miriam  and  made  her  a 
similar  offer.  Miriam  explained  the  situation  to  her, 
while  the  Abbe  followed  by  the  swami  walked  towards 
them. 

"  Miriam,  this  holy  man  of  peace  and  sanctity  offers 
you  an  asylum.  I  have  explained  to  him  that  we  hope 
to  get  you  out  of  the  province  and  that  you  are  about 
to  marry  my  friend,  David  Fraser.  He  tells  me  that  he 
understands  little  of  the  outer  world,  but  offers 
sanctuary  now  and  at  any  time." 

"  Let  us  refuse  it  with  much  gratitude.  Azizun 
here  has  done  much  to  serve  me,  though  I  have  no 
claim  to  her  help  or  her  regard." 

The  Abbe  talked  long  and  earnestly  to  the  swami, 
who  now  and  again  inclined  his  head  in  acquiescence. 
To  Azizun,  Miriam  explained  the  ceremonies  that  were 
so  soon  to  take  place,  and  then  whispered  to  the 
padrd  a  request  that  Azizun  should  stay  to  witness 
them. 

"  Assuredly,  my  daughter ;  be  it  as  you  will.  We 
can  easily  find  her  shelter." 

It  was  a  strangely  mingled  congregation  before 
whom  he  was  to  officiate. 


CHAPTEE  XXX 

THE   HUNDREDTH   NAME   OF   GOD 

TIME  and  space  trod  close  on  the  heels  of  love.  The 
Abbe  had  first  thought  that  both  baptism  and  marriage 
should  take  place  the  next  day,  but  late  in  the  after- 
noon, Allahdad  returned  with  a  patrol  from  a  long 
reconnaissance.  The  news  he  brought  was  important. 
Daoud  Shah,  with  a  strong  party  of  horse,  had  been 
in  Islamabad  and  gone  off  that  afternoon  hot-foot  to 
Shapiyon.  The  passes  to  the  Punjab  by  Verinag  were 
clear  of  anything  but  khassadars  at  worst,  and  the 
united  forces  of  the  refugees  was  now  enough  to  ensure 
safety  against  any  such.  It  was  essential,  however, 
that  they  should  move  that  night  if  they  were  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  opportunity,  another  might  not  arise. 
David  looked  at  the  Abbe  and  the  Abbe  smiled 
back  again.  The  baptism  and  the  marriage  must  take 
place  early  that  night  as  soon  as  everything  could  be 
arranged.  Allahdad  thought  that  they  should  start 
by  ten  o'clock,  so  that  there  was  little  enough  time 
to  spare.  Not  that  there  were  many  arrangements  to 
make.  When  the  marriage  had  been  settled  there  had 
been  a  pitiful  little  diving  into  their  small  bundles  by 
the  widows,  and  Nur  Jan  produced  a  plum  silk  em- 
broidered bodice  for  the  bride  to  wear,  while  Alana 
Bibi  unearthed  a  set  of  turquoise  and  gold  head  orna- 
ments that  had  come  from  her  mother  who  was  a 

321  v 


322          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Toorkomani.  A  marriage  even  at  an  hour's  notice  in 
a  ruined  temple,  in  fugitive  guise,  appealed  to  their 
feminine  love  of  romance.  Miriam  should  have  at  any 
rate  such  pomp  as  they  could  contribute*  though  that 
was  little  enough,  poor  souls!  The  Abbe  soon  came 
in  to  say  that  he  would  carry  out  the  baptism  service 
at  eight  o'clock,  in  the  presence  of  her  two  sisters- 
in-law  and  David,  and  that  the  wedding  should  be  at 
half-past  eight,  when  Allahdad  Khan,  and  one  or  two 
of  David's  own  men  should  be  present,  Nihal  Singh  and 
Gul  Jan,  the  orderly,  and  also  Azizun  and  the  swami. 
He  would  like  the  maid  to  be  in  white  or  in  a  white 
veil,  if  they  had  such  a  thing,  for  the  baptism,  and  in 
anything  she  liked  for  the  wedding. 

So,  inside,  the  Christian-and-bride-elect  was  pre- 
paring for  the  two  great  sacraments  of  the  Church  of 
Home,  and  outside  the  troopers  prepared  the  horses 
for  a  long  night  ride.  David,  in  that  strange  trance 
which  overtakes  men  in  sudden  view  of  the  novel 
condition  of  matrimony,  paced  the  courts  as  one  dazed. 
It  was  not  till  the  old  Abbe  came  up  and  slipped  his  arm 
in  his,  that  the  demands  on  the  wits  of  the  party  to  ensure 
escape  over  the  mountain  passes  to  India  came  back  to 
him.  Anxiously,  the  priest  dwelt  on  the  route  they 
must  take  and  the  miles  to  be  covered,  and  then  seeing 
the  young  man's  nerves  were  steadying,  harked  back 
to  the  coming  ceremonies,  and  the  way  of  them  that 
he  proposed.  David  would  stand  sponsor  to  Miriam  at 
her  baptism,  and  immediately  that  was  over,  he  was  to 
lead  her  out,  and  then  bring  her  in  once  more  to  the 
cloister  selected  for  the  second  ceremony.  There  was  an 
alcove  adjoining,  which  would  suffice  for  the  baptism, 
and  the  marriage  would  take  place  in  the  larger 
court  with  the  spectators  round  and  a  fire  alight  in  one 
corner  as  a  luminant.  David  gravely  bowed  his  head 
to  the  instructions,  and  then  squeezing  the  old  man's 


THE  HUNDREDTH  NAME  OF  GOD   323 

arm  in  token  of  his  thanks,  passed  out  to  the  court- 
yard, where  the  horses  were  picketed,  to  see  that  his 
and  the  ladies'  steeds  were  in  good  case. 

The  last  hour  of  the  evening  dragged  anxiously  along, 
till  the  Abbe  came  to  tell  him  that  all  was  ready  for  the 
baptism.  He  entered  into  a  small  cloistered  alcove  in 
the  corner  of  which  a  dim  log-fire  burnt,  with  a  heap 
of  dry  grass  in  the  opposite  corner.  On  an  old  grey 
stone  in  the  centre  stood  a  brass  dish,  full  of  water, 
placed  on  an  embroidered  handkerchief,  and  a  smaller 
saucer,  also  of  brass,  filled  with  the  red  rock  salt  of  the 
bazaar.  The  grey  carved  walls  looked  strange  in  the 
glow  of  the  fire,  the  carved  figures  minus  their  noses 
and  cheeks  flaked  off  in  the  fires  of  the  iconoclast  king, 
grinned  like  hobgoblins  and  gargoyles,  and  out,  through 
a  distant  porch,  lay  the  great  grey  moor  in  the  moon- 
light, which  played  on  the  shuddering,  unshorn  grass 
that  the  night  wind  was  stirring. 

The  fining  pot  for  silver  and  the  furnace  for  gold. 
Suddenly  there  broke  on  that  tense,  cloistered  silence, 
a  silence  almost  of  the  grave,  a  clear,  sweet  voice, 
the  well-preserved  baritone  of  Jean  du  Plessis,  chanting 
the  Quare  Fremuerunt,  to  an  old  psalm  tune  that  was 
familiar  even  to  David's  presbyterian  ear.  Behind 
the  priest,  walking  fearless  and  steadfast,  came  Miriam 
herself,  and  behind  her  again  the  huddled  begums, 
half-frightened  at  taking  part  in  the  ceremonies  of  an 
unknown  religion.  The  Abbe  wheeled  round  to  the 
head  of  the  stone  block,  on  which  stood  the  improvised 
font  and  the  holy  water,  and  pointing  to  the  ground 
on  the  other  side  of  the  block,  bade  Miriam  kneel, 
motioning  also  the  begums  to  stand  or  crouch  by  the 
wall. 

David  tossed  some  of  the  dry  grass  on  to  the  smoul- 
dering logs,  and  the  fitful  flames  blazed  till  the  red  light 
shone  again  from  the  features  of  the  gargoyled  idols 


824          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

on  the  walls.  Quietly  and  solemnly,  as  if  he  had  been 
in  his  old  parish  church  of  St.  Marie  aux  Chenes,  the 
Abbe  commenced  the  beautiful  sonorous  Latin  of  the 
old  Catholic  sacrament  of  Holy  Baptism.  On  her  knees 
with  her  head  bowed,  and  her  hands  clasped  in  front 
of  her,  the  Afghan  maiden  awaited  her  admission  to  the 
Christian  faith  while  the  fire  flickered  and  the  gar- 
goyles blinked  and  waited  as  they  had  waited  a  thousand 
years  and  more  on  the  grey  Martand  Moor. 

Then  came  the  questions  to  which  she  had  learnt 
the  answers : 

"  Miriam,  what  dost  thou  ask  of  the  Church  of 
God  ?  " 

And  the  clear  answer  of  the  maid  rose  through  the 
roofless  chamber : 

"  Faith." 

Then  again  the  insistant  question  : 

"  What  does  Faith  obtain  for  thee  ?  " 

And  once  again  the  prompted  answer  of  the  initiate 
mind: 

"  Life  Everlasting." 

Then,  as  David  threw  more  grass  on  the  fire,  the 
priest  came  round  to  where  the  maid  knelt,  and  breath- 
ing thrice  on  her  face,  pronounced  the  exorcism  of  evil 
spirits,  the  solemn  phrases  fitting  well  the  memories  of 
unholy  rites  invoked  by  the  idols  round. 

Loud  and  clear  rose  the  exorcism  till  it  echoed 
through  the  cloisters : 

"  Exi  ab  ea,  spiritus  immunda  et  da  locum  spiritui 
Sancto  Paraclite.  Ergo  maledicta  diabole  recognosce 
sententiam  tuam,  et  da  Iwnorem  Jesu  Christo" 

Making  the  sign  of  the  Cross,  the  priest  placed  the 
blessed  salt  in  the  devotee's  mouth. 

"  Receive  the  salt  of  wisdom.  Let  it  be  to  thee 
a  propitiation  unto  life  everlasting." 

When  the  veil  had  been  removed   from  the   still 


THE  HUNDBEDTH  NAME  OF  GOD       325 

kneeling  girl  and  the  holy  water  poured  thrice  on  her 
head,  once  again  the  beautiful  language  of  the  dead 
builders  of  a  distant  empire  filled  the  chamber. 

"  Ego  te  baptizo  in  nomine  Patris  et  Filii  et  Spiritus 
Sancti." 

Then  David  came  and  knelt  by  the  side  of  Mary 
that  was  Miriam,  and  as  the  blessing  ended  led  her  away 
to  her  own  cloister,  whither  scuttled  the  begurns  to 
take  their  share  in  the  propitious  work  of  dressing  the 
bride  for  the  bridal.  To  which  ceremony  was  ad- 
mitted also  Azizun  the  dancer. 

In  the  larger  chamber  adjoining,  the  Abbe  had 
made  the  preparations  for  the  wedding.  The  brass 
dish  and  the  embroidered  handkerchief  he  had  placed  on 
a  similar  stone  and  fires  blazed  as  before  in  the  corners. 
Allahdad  Khan  the  Chib,  Nihal  Singh  the  Eajpoot, 
and  Gul  Jan  Duranni  had  been  summoned  and  stood 
solemn  and  immovable  fully  accoutred  against  the 
wall.  Opposite  them  were  the  begums  properly  veiled, 
and  with  them,  Azizun,  in  her  softest  mood.  And  the 
swami  who  had  little  enough  to  do  with  marrying  and 
giving  in  marriage  looked  on  from  his  puckered  eyes 
with  the  glance  of  understanding.  It  had  been 
arranged  that  David  himself,  should  lead  in  his  bride, 
while  the  Abbe  waited  for  them  at  the  head  of  the 
improvised  altar  stone. 

Thus  in  due  form  was  David  Fraser  of  Lagg  joined 
to  Mary,  his  wife,  in  Holy  Matrimony,  while  the  fire- 
light flickered  red  on  those  gargoyle  heads  in  the  temple 
of— 

"  The  God  of  the  sensuous  fire 
That  moulds  all  nature  in  forms  divine." 

Bed  danced  the  fire  on  the  light  loves  carved  on  the 
temple  stones,  as  the  Latin  rolled  again  : 

"  Ego  Conjungo  vos  in  matrimonium,  in  nomine 
Patris  et  Filii  et  Spiritus  Sancti.  Amen." 


826          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

Then  after  the  holy  water,  while  the  begums  and 
the  soldiers  wondered,  and  the  swami  understood,  came 
the  exhortation  : 

"  Oremus,  respice  quaesumus  Domine,  super  hos 
formulas  tuos,  et  institutis  tuis,  quaebus  propagatione 
humani  generis  ordinasti  benignus  assiste,  ut  qui  to 
autore  junguntur,  te  auxiliante  serventur,  per  Christum 
Dominum  Nostrum.  Amen" 

Outside  the  saddled  horses  champed  a  chant  to  the 
blessing : 

"  Benedicat  vos,  Omnipotens  Deus,  Pater,  Filius 
et  Spiritus  Sanctus.  Amen." 

The  beautiful  ceremony  over,  beautiful  in  the  rich 
Latin,  solemn  in  that  striking  setting,  David  Fraser  of 
Lagg,  escheat  since  the  '45,  and  Mary  his  wife,  left 
the  cloister,  and  waited  in  the  court,  where  there  came 
to  them,  Nihal  Singh,  Gul  Jan,  and  Allahdad  the  Chib. 
Each  stood  square  before  the  pair,  and  with  that 
wonderful  gift  of  tongues  in  which  the  East  is  so 
blest,  took  first  his,  and  then  her  hands  in  theirs,  and 
offered  their  felicitations.  Tears  of  happiness  and  con- 
tent stood  in  Miriam's  eyes,  her  heart  stirred  to  its 
foundations  at  the  faithful,  respectful  sentiment  in 
the  grip  of  those  rough  warworn  hands.  Now  and 
again  it  is  given  to  men  to  take  the  hearts  of  others 
from  their  place,  and  restore  them  stimulated  and 
strengthened,  and  the  homage  of  the  three  warriors  of 
divergent  races,  took  out  and  stirred  the  hearts  of 
David  and  Miriam  to  mighty  resolutions.  And  behind 
them,  huddled  in  the  shadow,  stood  the  widows, 
weeping  quietly,  not  at  their  own  loss  and  sorrows, 
but  in  sympathy  at  their  sisters'  fateful  day.  Azizun, 
the  dancer,  clasped  the  hand  of  Miriam,  the  bride,  in 
silent  sympathy  for  a  lot  that  might  not  be  hers. 

For  a  minute,  the  Abbe  stood  watching  the  subtler 
sex  murmuring  :  "  Jouis  de  la  vie  avec  lafcmme  que  tu 


aimes  "  from  the  wisdom  of  Elohim,  and  then  had 
perforce  to  break  the  thread  of  the  scene. 

"  Children,  we  must  now  to  horse.  Allahdad  has 
told  us  that  we  must  lose  no  time.  Permit  me  !  "  and 
offering  his  arm  to  Miriam  with  all  the  old-world  cour- 
tesy of  the  Ancien  Eegime,  he  led  the  way  to  the  centre 
court,  where  troopers  held  the  saddled  horses.  The  two 
begums  were  hoisted  on  to  the  quiet  ponies  provided 
for  them,  and  Mistress  David  Fraser  helped  on  to  hers. 
Then  Allahdad  and  the  Abbe  leading,  with  the  ladies 
in  the  middle  and  David  at  their  side,  the  cavalcade 
set  out  in  the  moonlight  for  a  ride  of  uncertain  length 
and  possible  peril,  while  Azizun  and  the  swami  made 
their  way  to  their  boat.  The  change  from  the  deep 
shadow  of  the  ruin  to  the  tense  almost  fierce  moonlight 
of  the  moor,  unloosed  the  tongues  and  both  ladies  and 
escort  commenced  to  converse  one  with  another,  till 
Allahdad  rode  back  along  the  line  to  urge  silence.  It 
were  well  that  no  wayfarers  should  have  ken  of  their 
presence. 

So  they  rode  away  silent  again  into  the  night,  with 
no  sound  but  the  thresh  of  the  horses'  hoofs  in  the 
grass  and  the  occasional  rattle  of  a  sabre,  with  now 
and  again  the  hoot  of  some  frightened  owl.  For  some 
miles  the  route  lay  across  the  plain,  till  at  last  the  out- 
lying gardens  of  Islamabad  were  reached.  Skirting 
the  village,  Allahdad  headed  for  the  conical  hill  above 
Verinag,  past  tall  poplars  and  orchards  of  apricot 
trees,  and  over  streams  and  irrigation  cuts,  on,  past 
tall  double  storied  peasants'  huts  and  the  spires  of 
woodland  temples.  After  two  hours'  trot-and-jog,  the 
party  halted  for  a  few  minutes  and  the  men  dismounted. 
The  night  had  changed,  and  the  unusual  warmth  de- 
noted storm.  Great  black  clouds  half  obscured  the 
moon,  and  distant  lightning  flashed  across  the  summer 
sky.  David  and  Allahdad  spoke  of  the  weather,  and 


328          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

decided  that  they  must  push  on  as  far  as  possible. 
The  storm  might  not  come,  and  at  any  rate  there  was 
a  farm  where  they  might  shelter,  five  or  six  miles  on. 
The  party  pushed  on  in  anxious  silence.  Heavy  rain 
would  make  it  more  than  difficult  to  climb  the  passes. 
For  several  miles  the  road  lay  through  gardens  and  fields, 
past  the  old  Hindu  palace  and  sacred  pool  of  Verinag, 
where  the  Jhelum  river  rises  from  out  the  mountain  side. 
The  rumble  of  distant  thunder  and  the  flashing  light- 
ning added  to  their  speed,  and  at  last  the  road  began  to 
ascend,  winding  and  zigzagging  up  a  deep  dark  gully. 
Half-way  up  they  passed  a  couple  of  huts  and  a  small 
bazaar,  and  here  Allahdad  stopped,  just  as  a  loud 
clap  of  thunder  proclaimed  that  the  storm  was  on  them. 
Up  to  the  right,  he  said,  turned  a  path  up  the  spur  to 
a  large  walled  farm  and  homestead.  Here  the  ladies 
and  the  sahibs  could  get  shelter,  he  knew  the  owner 
well.  He  would  take  them  up  and  leave  his  own  men 
to  shelter  in  the  bazaar.  Down  came  the  rain  as  ho 
spoke,  and  the  ladies  were  hurried  off  up  the  cobbled 
path  to  the  homestead,  with  the  padre  and  David's 
own  four  men.  The  road  wound  up  through  a  deodar 
forest,  and  the  rugged  straight  trunks  stood  out  from 
time  to  time  to  the  flash  of  the  lightning,  while  the 
thunder  re-echoed  up  the  gully.  Ten  minutes' 
climb  brought  them  to  a  massive  mud-built  thatched 
house  and  courtyard,  a  welcome  haven  at  the 
commencement  of  a  wild  night.  Allahdad  succeeded 
in  rousing  the  owner,  who  readily  admitted  the  travel- 
lers. In  a  very  short  time  the  begums  were  installed 
in  an  inner  room,  to  crouch  in  each  other's  arms  in 
one  corner  to  listen  to  the  storm,  while  Miriam  slept 
in  David's  arms  in  the  other,  utterly  worn  out  with 
the  strain  and  excitement  of  the  day.  Nihal  Singh 
and  the  others  of  David's  men,  slept  in  the  verandah, 
and  with  them  remained  the  Abbe,  while  Allahdad 


THE  HUNDEEDTH  NAME  OF  GOD      329 

returned  to  his  own  party  in  the  bazaar,  where  they 
and  their  horses  could  obtain  shelter. 

Sleep,  well-earned,  took  control  of  the  party,  and 
the  confident  Chibs  slept  without  a  sentry,  the  end  of 
which  is  death.  The  storm  died  away  in  the  small 
hours  of  the  morning,  and  it  was  close  on  four  when  the 
Abbe  woke  with  a  start,  the  sound  of  a  pistol  shot, 
of  which  he  had  dreamed,  ringing  in  his  ears.  Phew ! 
How  vivid  the  report  had  seemed  to  him,  and  then  as 
he  listened,  another !  This  time  there  was  no  doubt 
about  it,  down  in  the  little  bazaar.  The  Abbe  got  up, 
buckled  securely  to  his  side,  the  rapier  he  had  been 
carrying  since  he  left  Srinagar,  and  walked  to  the  gate- 
way of  the  courtyard.  It  was  a  glorious  morning,  with 
a  hint  of  the  false  dawn,  and  a  soft  breeze  through  the 
dripping  cedars.  He  could  hear  voices  down  in  the 
bazaar.  He  returned  inside  to  wake,  gently,  the 
others,  and  then  went  back  to  the  gateway  and  looked 
out.  The  thunder  was  still  rumbling  in  the  distance, 
and  sounded  as  if  the  storm  might  return.  Heavy 
thunder  clouds  still  hung  over  the  tops  of  the  deodars,  to 
the  west,  and  the  setting  moon  shone  clear  below  them. 

As  the  Abbe  looked  and  listened,  suddenly,  from 
behind  the  trunks  of  the  trees,  there  rushed  at  him 
half  a  dozen  men,  followed,  immediately,  by  as  many 
more.  Fortunately,  the  gate  of  the  courtyard  was 
narrow,  and  the  old  man  had  time  to  throw  himself 
on  guard  with  drawn  rapier  in  the  roadway.  An  old 
man  in  a  white  soutane  seemed  little  enough  to  fear, 
and  three  men  closed  on  him.  But  the  iron  old  wrist 
had  not  lost  its  cunning  and  nerve.  Two  sharp  passes, 
and  two  Toork  troopers  fell,  run  through  the  body,  and 
the  third  escaped  with  a  burning  livid  furrow  in  his 
arm.  The  Abbe  stamped  and  shouted,  the  old  joy  of 
battle  back  in  his  faded  eyes.  Half  a  dozen  more 
of  the  assailants  rushed  forward  to  fall  back  before 


330 

that  flashing  circling  steel,  not  before  a  fourth  had 
paid  for  his  temerity.  The  old  man's  stand  had  given 
time  for  the  others  to  hurry  out  with  their  weapons. 
Five  stalwart  pairs  of  arms  were  brought  to  the  defence 
of  the  gateway,  Nihal  Singh,  the  Dogra,  leading.  The 
enemy  hesitated,  till  a  sneering  voice  in  the  rear  urged 
them  onward,  lashing  them  with  biting  jest  and  jibe. 
A  dozen  men  flung  themselves  at  the  now  waiting 
rapier  behind  which  stood  the  swords  of  the 
troopers.  The  rapier  flashed  and  circled;  the  maitre 
d'armes  lunged  again  twice,  and  two  more  fell  to  a 
weapon  they  had  no  ken  of.  Then  again,  the  cool 
rasping  voice  behind  spoke,  and  the  outer  men  in  the 
scrimmage  died  away  and  since  the  courtyard  wall 
was  of  mud,  and  but  six  foot  high,  on  either  side  of  the 
gateway  half  a  dozen  Toorks  scrambled  over  the  tops 
and  dropped  into  the  interior.  Without  a  moment's 
hesitation  they  rushed  in  on  the  rear  of  the  little  knot 
by  the  gateway,  who  faced  to  receive  them.  As  they 
did  so,  the  Abbe's  attention  was  taken  off  for  an 
instant  and  a  huge  savage  rushed  in  to  strike  him  on 
the  arm  with  an  iron  mace,  another  fired  a  bell-mouthed 
pistol  into  Nihal  Singh's  face,  and  the  two  Eajpoots 
were  cut  down.  Gul  Jan  rushed  back  towards  the 
house,  and  the  remaining  trooper,  he  who  had  escaped 
from  Inayat  Ullah's  party,  was  piked  in  the  eyeball. 
Three  men  jumped  on  the  Abbe,  his  sword  arm  now 
powerless,  and  dragged  him  into  the  court,  just  as 
David,  roused  by  the  shouting,  had  rushed  out  of  the 
building,  sword  in  one  hand  and  pistol  in  the  other. 
Jamming  his  pistol  into  the  face  of  a  man  who  rushed 
on  him  he  fired,  only  to  be  seized  by  two  others,  who 
leapt  on  to  him  from  a-top  the  courtyard  wall,  from 
which  a  third  dropped  a  huge  stone  on  Gul  Jan's 
head. 
Of  the  seven  men  who  had  entered  the  homestead 


THE  HUNDKEDTH  NAME  OF  GOD      331 

an  hour  or  so  before,  five  lay  prostrate,  David  had  been 
seized  and  bound,  and  the  old  Abb6  lay  half-dazed 
between  his  captors,  who  eagerly  waited  someone's 
orders  to  dispatch  him.  Standing  in  the  gateway, 
silhouetted  against  the  red  glow  on  the  eastern  horizon 
stood  Daoud  Shah  himself,  sword  in  hand,  a  sarcastic 
smile  playing  round  his  mouth.  Opposite,  was  the 
verandah  of  the  house  in  which  lay  David  and  the 
Abbe,  while  dragged  from  the  inner  rooms  in  huddled 
fear  crouched  the  two  begums.  Standing  alone  and 
upright  between  two  Toorks,  was  the  Lady  Miriam, 
otherwise  Mary  Fraser  herself,  at  which  sight  tho 
bound  David,  his  arms  held  with  leather  thongs, 
strained  and  struggled  to  be  free. 

As   Daoud    Shah  stood  in  tho  gateway  the  Abbe 
staggered  to  his  feet.    The  Afghan  smiled  again. 

"  Aha  !  gentlemen !     He  laughs  longest  who  laughs 

last !    Is  it  meet  that  you  should  conspire  to  carry 

off  my  bride,"  and  David  cursed.    The  curse  of  despair. 

"  What  punishment   do   you  consider  fit,  mistress, 

for  those  who  dare  to  carry  thee  from  thy  lawful  lord  ?  " 

And  Mary  Fraser  looked  him  fair  in   his    bitter, 

evil  face  and  said  : 

"  Alive  or  dead  I  can  never  belong  to  an  infidel  like 
you." 

"  Hoity  toighty,  Mussalmani !  dost  talk  of  infidel 
to  me." 

"  Infidel  and  faithless  to  turn  against  my  brother, 
a  fellow  Afghan  and  a  Duranni  of  the  Pearl." 

"  Is  that  all  the  trouble  ?  good  faith  never  troubled 
an  Afghan  yet,"  but  I  have  other  things  to  do  than 
bandy  words  with  my  bride  that  is  to  be.  Listen 
now,  you  snivelling  Christian  priest,  and  you  master 
Ferassa  you  Afghan  half  breed.  Pharaoh  is  dead,  dost 
remember  ?  In  ten  minutes  you  will  both  hang  from 
yonder  deodar,  and  you  may  thank  your  stars  and 


332  A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

ray  mercy  that  I  flay  you  not  alive  for  your  pains.  I 
will  hang  your  men  with  you,  dead  or  alive,  and  these 
two. old  baggages  also.  You,  my  Lady  Miriam,  will 
make  ready  to  return  a-horseback  with  me  to  Srinagar. 
Here,  Solomani!  get  ropes  round  their  necks  sharp." 

The  men  holding  David  and  the  priest  produced 
ropes.  The  Abbe  had  faced  death  too  often  to  dread  it 
under  any  circumstances,  and  had  little  enough  desire 
to  crave  his  life  at  any  man's  hands.  But  Miriam's, 
above  all,  was  to  be  saved. 

"  Ahasuerus  of  Jerusalem,"  he  began,  and  Daoud 
Shah's  face  changed,  and  then  hardened. 

"  Old  man,  best  tempt  me  not,  lest  I  order 
that  flaying.  Talk  not  to  me  of  Jerusalem.  Look 
sharp  there,  and  get  those  nooses  over  the  branch,  lest 
I  hang  some  of  you  as  well." 

The  Toork  soldiers  cast  the  ropes  up  over  the  branch 
of  Cedar  Deodaris,  which  is  first  cousin  to  Cedar  Lebani, 
and  David  Eraser  and  Jean  du  Plessis  stood  ready  for 
the  hanging,  while  Miriam  waited,  dazed  and  motionless, 
as  one  in  a  trance. 

The  great  cloud  hung  over  the  west,  and  the  thunder 
rolled  and  boomed  among  the  peaks  of  the  Pir  Panjal, 
and  the  red  in  the  east  grew  brighter,  while  in  the 
foreground,  between  Daoud  Shah  and  his  victims,  lay 
the  dead  and  wounded  in  the  fray.  Then,  up  spoke 
once  again,  Jean  Armande  du  Plessis. 

"  Dost  remember,  Ahasuerus,  of  the  tribe  of  the 
Ben-i-Israel  ?  '  Tarry  thou  till  I  return,'  was  the  com- 
mand, but  He  never  bade  thee  do  evil  for  ever  and 
ever.  Is  the  curse  of  the  Living  God  so  deep  that 
thou  canst  never  abide  the  good  ?  Spare  this  girl  and 
this  young  man,  if  ever  thou  hopest  for  peace  at  the 
last.  See  now !  I  make  the  Great  Appeal.  By  the 
Hundredth  Name  of  God,  that  thou  knowest !  By 
the  Scattered  Letters  and  the  Day  of  Atonement !  By 


THE  HUNDEEDTH  NAME  OF  GOD       338 

the  Sign  and  the  Word  that  thou  hast  learnt !  behold, 
I  make  to  thee,  the  Great  Appeal." 

As  the  lightning  flashed  in  the  cloud  behind  the 
forest  spur,  Daoud  Shah  looked  and  saw  Jean  du 
Plessis  giving  the  sign  of  the  Great  Appeal  that  goes 
with  the  Omnific  Word.  By  his  side,  too,  stood  David, 
concerned  only  in  how  he  might  get  respite  to  save 
Mary  his  wife,  making  also  the  Appeal. 

Then  it  was,  that  Daoud  Shah  remembered  an  oath, 
he  that  had  scorned  oaths  and  compacts  and  faith 
between  man  and  man,  and  man  and  God ;  remembered, 
too,  the  strange  happenings  in  the  ruins  of  the  Great 
Temple,  and  how  the  Eoman  Eagles  had  marched  in 
over  the  ruined  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  to  his  heart 
there  came  a  glimmer  of  ruth  for  the  first  time  for 
many  a  long  year.  Instinctively,  he  found  himself 
answering  the  Great  Appeal  and  the  Omnific  Word, 
thereby  binding  himself  to  save. 

"  Take  off  those  ropes,"  he  snarled.  "  Take  them 
off,  and  take  the  men  and  women  inside,  and  let  them 
be  guarded."  Then,  turning  his  back  on  the  scene 
of  carnage  inside  the  court,  he  walked  out  of  the  gate 
and  up  the  spur,  and  stood  on  a  ledge  looking  into  the 
gloom  below.  Below  him  on  the  spur  stood  a  Toork 
trooper  holding  his  horse. 

As  he  stood  gazing  back  on  the  ages  and  into  the 
eye  of  the  rising  sun,  a  fierce  shouting  in  the  homestead 
broke  on  his  ear.  Down  the  spur  above  the  farm, 
were  rushing  sixty  or  seventy  men.  They  flung  them- 
selves into  the  courtyard,  over  the  walls,  and  round  to 
the  gate.  His  own  surprised  followers  hurried  to  oppose 
them,  to  be  swamped  and  beaten  down.  He  turned 
fiercely  to  his  horse,  sprang  to  the  saddle,  and  spurred 
clown  to  the  gate.  Towards  him  rushed  twenty  or 
thirty  of  the  new-comers,  who  had  already  swept  away 
his  own  men.  Hack  and  slash  and  shout  again,  they 


834          A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

tumbled  out  from  the  gateway  and  at  their  head  that 
cursed  old  wazir,  Yar  Khan  himself !  His  men  over- 
powered, escape  seemed  impossible,  but  jamming  his 
heels  to  his  high-spirited  horse,  he  rushed  straight 
into  their  midst,  clearing  a  way  for  himself  as  they  fell 
aside  before  the  impetus.  Bursting  through  them,  the 
level  space  came  to  an  end,  and  nothing  remained,  but 
the  drop  over  the  spur,  a  sheer  precipice,  from  which 
peered  up  the  tops  of  the  deodars  that  grew  out  from 
the  face  of  the  cliff.  The  frightened  horse  jumped 
wildly  into  the  air,  and  horse  and  rider,  Zabulon,  the 
arab,  and  Daoud  Shah,  of  the  Ben-i-Israel,  his  rider, 
sprang  out  into  space,  and  then  fell  turning  over  and 
over  and  over  in  the  gorge  below,  till  lost  in  the 
shroud  of  a  rising  cloud,  "  et  la  poussi&re  retourne  a  la 
terre  d'ou  elk  a  ete 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

THE   PAX   BRITANNICA 

So  Daoud  Shah,  the  incomprehensible  firebrand  of  the 
Northern  States,  disappeared  over  the  cliff  into  the 
cloud  and  mists,  and  his  following  melted  away  before 
the  onslaught.  It  was  Yar  Khan,  with  Tone,  Ganesha 
Singh,  and  Habib  Ullah  Khan,  who  had  arrived  so 
opportunely,  in  time  to  save  the  refugees.  Yar  Khan 
and  Tone  had  broken  away  from  the  ambush  of  Feroz 
Tuglak  at  the  village  of  Pulpattan,  and  had  rallied 
most  of  the  survivors  at  the  Jhelum  ferry.  A  few 
Kashmiri  villagers  had  been  sent  to  let  the  broken  ranks 
know  where  to  collect,  and  then  unexpectedly  to  them 
had  come  Habib,  who  had  been  marching  the  infantry 
and  guns  quietly  back  over  the  Tragbal.  At  Bandipura 
came  the  news  of  the  successful  coup  de  main  of  Altamish 
and  also  of  the  debacle  at  Palpattan.  The  officers  had 
called  a  gathering  of  the  men  and  had  proposed  that 
as  the  rule  of  dead  Salabat  Khan  must  be  over,  they 
had  best  join  the  de  facto  Governor.  The  body  of  their 
late  Governor  they  handed  to  a  local  moollah  to  bury, 
and  Habib  Ullah  and  a  few  of  his  following  decided  to 
ride  away  and  try  and  rejoin  Yar  Khan. 

The  next  step  for  Yar  Khan  was  to  learn  what  had 
happened  to  the  ladies  at  the  Shergarhi,  after  which  he 
could  decide  on  some  plan.  Troopers  from  Inayat 
Ullah's  following  found  them  and  told  the  tale  of  the 

333 


836  A  FBEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

blowing  away  from  the  cannon,  and  the  reason  therefor, 
and  the  flight  of  the  ladies  to  Islamabad.  Thither  then 
Yar  Khan  bent  his  steps  after  resting  man  and  horse, 
had  come  across  the  trail  of  Daoud  Shah  and  learnt  of 
the  reward  that  he  had  offered  for  news  of  Miriam. 
That  touched  the  only  really  tender  spot  in  the  old 
man's  heart.  Miriam  had  found  a  very  soft  corner  for 
herself  there,  more  especially  since  she  had  shown  such 
grit  when  David  ha$  personated  her  brother.  For  David 
also  he  had  regard  and  interest,  but  to  rescue  Miriam 
stimulated  all  his  faculties.  One  way  and  another 
over  a  hundred  men  were  still  with  him,  and  with 
these  he  started  for  Islamabad.  Nothing  could  bo 
heard  of  the  refugees,  but  late  in  the  evening  he  had 
again  struck  the  trail  of  Daoud  Shah  returning  on  his 
tracks  and  making  for  Verinag.  He  had  come  up  as 
has  been  related  with  them  at  the  critical  moment  in 
the  mountain  homestead.  Daoud  Shah's  men  sur- 
prised and  overpowered,  were  either  killed  or  fled 
down  the  spur  in  all  directions,  much  aided  thereto  by 
Allahdad's  men,  who  had  been  found  by  Yar  Khan, 
furious  at  having  been  surprised  and  separated  from 
David  and  the  ladies. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  release  David  and  the  Abbe 
or  restore  confidence  to  the  frightened  begums.  Miriam 
herself  or  Mary,  as  she  now  was,  stood  dry-eyed  but 
dazed  just  where  her  guards  had  left  her  when  Yar 
Khan  came  into  the  courtyard,  and  to  that  old  warrior's 
concern,  had  collapsed  into  his  arms.  The  sun  had  now 
risen,  and  there  was  plenty  of  daylight.  To  make 
assurance  doubly  sure,  lest  more  Toorks  be  about,  Yar 
Khan  decided  that  they  must  cross  the  pass  at  once. 
Their  own  wounded  they  would  carry,  but  their  own 
and  the  attacker's  dead  must  remain.  The  frightened 
farmer  promised  to  arrange  for  burial  if  he  might  keep 
the  arms  and  appointments  and  any  stray  horses. 


THE   PAX  BRITANNICA  337 

One  dead  Rajpoot  trooper  should  be  carried  with  them 
strapped  across  a  horse  to  be  burnt  by  his  brother 
Hindus  next  day.  A  couple  of  dozen  Kashmiri 
villagers  were  impressed  from  a  village  down  the 
hillside  to  carry  improvised  litters,  and  by  an  hour 
after  daylight  the  whole  cavalcade  slowly  climbed  the 
Banihal  pass  and  crossed  the  waterparting  that 
separated  Kashmir  from  the  Eajpoot  territories  of  the 
upper  Chenab  valleys. 

Near  the  top  of  the  pass  the  border  post  of  Uiassadars 
had  not  even  heard  of  the  change  of  rule,  and  the  party 
passed  them  without  incident,  to  encamp  without 
interference  in  a  quiet  grass  valley  below  the  fast 
vanishing  snow-line. 

The  next  day  plans  had  to  be  settled.  Nihal  Singh, 
despite  his  pistol  wound,  was  able  to  suggest  that  they 
could  stay  and  rest  men  and  horse  at  Cheneni.  The 
Cheneni  chief  was  a  Mian  Dogra  of  the  same  clan  as 
himself,  and  his  word  would  be  taken  that  they  would 
be  peaceful  visitors.  Cheneni  was  two  marches  on 
across  the  Chenab.  Thither  Yar  Khan  proposed, 
therefore,  to  go.  Allahdad  should  then  take  the 
begums  from  thence  to  the  Lady  Nur  Jan's  own  home 
in  Chibland.  David  proposed  to  reorganize  his  own 
rissalah  with  as  many  as  would  follow  him,  while  Yar 
Khan  intended  to  return  to  Kabul  with  any  men  who 
would  go  there.  David,  balked  of  the  career  that  had 
seemed  to  open  for  him  in  Kashmir,  would  take  his 
rissalah  and  offer  it  to  the  British  Government  as  he 
had  learned  that  James  Skinner  had  already  done, 
and  if  not,  he  would  ride  through  again  to  Central 
India.  The  Abbe,  much  shaken  by  all  that  he  had 
gone  through,  would  at  any  rate  stay  with  them  for  a 
while. 

So,  through  to  Cheneni  they  marched,  and  the  chief 
there,  after  hearing  their  story  from  Nihal  Singh,  put 


338          A  FREELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

a  commodious  old  serai  at  their  disposal,  and  sent  out 
tents  of  all  kinds  for  the  accommodation  of  the  ladies. 
For  a  whole  month  in  great  peace  they  rested,  during 
which  time  Mary  recovered  wholly  from  her  shock, 
while  the  tired  horses  improved  daily  on  the  sweet 
upland  grass.  After  five  or  six  days,  the  begums 
moved  away  with  Allahdad  and  four  of  his  men  through 
Poonch  to  their  destination,  leaving  Mary  and  David 
with  many  tears  and  protests.  The  remaining  Chibs 
elected  to  stay  with  David.  Yar  Khan  at  the  last 
moment  had  promised  to  turn  squire  of  dames  and  to 
come  and  take  the  Alana  Bibi  away  to  her  own  home 
among  the  Mooltanis.  He  then  stayed  a  week  more  to 
rest  his  horse,  and  rode  off  at  last  with  twenty  men 
and  many  protests  of  affection.  Miriam  even  went  so 
far  as  to  prophesy  that  he  would  marry  Alana  Bibi 
and  go  manage  her  estates,  at  which  they  both 
laughed  heartily. 

For  three  weeks  more  David  and  Mary  his  wife  lived 
alone  in  intense  happiness  in  the  comfortable  tents 
that  the  Cheneni  chief  had  lent  them.  Habib  Ullah 
had  declared  his  intention  of  staying  with  David  as 
second  in  command  of  his  rissalah. 

David  still  had  left,  fortunately,  one  of  the  Begum 
Somru's  original  hundis,  and  was  able  to  obtain  from 
a  banker  in  Cheneni  enough  money  to  maintain  his 
men  at  any  rate  for  two  or  three  months.  It  would 
be  necessary  to  repay  that  lady  later,  since  the  cata- 
clysm in  Kashmir  had  put  it  out  of  his  power  to  serve 
her  interests  there,  but  that  must  wait ;  the  means  of 
existence  were  the  first  consideration. 

The  Abbe  lay  in  a  tent  close  by,  devotedly  nursed  by 
the  faithful  Tone,  who  had  constituted  himself  the  old 
priest's  henchman,  and  gradually  regained  the  use  of 
the  injured  arm.  One  day  David  came  back  from  a 
demonstration  against  a  recalcitrant  vassal  of  the 


THE  PAX  BBITANNICA  389 

Cheneni  Kajah  to  find  Mary  much  distressed.  With 
her  sat  the  Abbe. 

"  David,  the  padre  is  going  away;  going  back  to 
Kashmir." 

"  What  is  this,  Padre?  You  are  surely  not  going 
away  from  us  after  all  you've  done  for  us." 

"  My  son  !  Children  !  Thanks  to  this  dear  lady's 
care  I  am  now  restored.  I  must  about  my  work.  Can 
I  idle  my  life  through  ?  Would  that  be  right  for  a 
priest  of  the  Society  of  Jesus?  Bather  must  I  be 
doing  at  once.  I  am  going  back  to  Kashmir,  children. 
There  cholera  is  raging,  and  the  people  will  look  for  my 
remedies,  poor  though  they  be.  Besides,  it  is  all 
selfishness.  Work  I  must  do  and  preach  the  faith  in 
clue  season.  Where  better  than  in  that  beautiful 
valley  which  I  love  so  well,  despite  the  troubles  we've 
just  come  through.  All  my  connection  with  the  world 
lies  in  you  two,  or  in  old  unhappy  far-off  things.  I  see 
you  happy  and  safe,  and  my  Mary  here  in  good  hands, 
so  back  I  will  go  to  my  cure,  and  you  would  not  hinder 
me." 

It  was  true  enough,  they  could  all  see  it.  The 
padre  must  to  his  preaching  as  the  shoemaker  to  his 
last,  and  where  could  he  preach  better  or  to  more 
need? 

"  Your  riverence,  I  will  come  back  too,"  cried  Tone, 
who  had  come  to  the  tent  door  as  the  Abb6  was 
speaking. 

"  You,  my  son.    Why  ?  " 

"  For  why  ?  First,  because  I  am  not  going  to 
leave  you,  and  secondly,  because  I  know  that  Altamish 
will  give  me  service.  He  will  trust  me.  AU  Hindostan 
knows  that  the  soldier  of  fortune  is  true  to  his  salt." 

Lucius  Tone  might  also  have  added  that  he  mourned 
also  for  that  beautiful  inlaid  cannon  the  "  Iqd-i-Gul " 
which  called  him  back,  and  was  keeping  a  niche  for 


840 

him  in  the  artillery  service  of  Altamish,  newly-made 
Governor  of  Kashmir.  The  gunners,  too,  whom  he 
had  trained  with  such  care  were  there  also.  Like 
the  cat,  he  was  faithful  to  the  house  and  not  to  the 
master.  Where  gunners  were  wanted,  there  would 
he  be.  It  was  by  no  means  certain  that  David  could 
employ  him  in  the  future. 

"  Very  well,  my  son,  it  will  be  much  joy  to  me  to 
have  you  in  Kashmir.  If  you  march  back  with  me,  so 
much  the  added  pleasure." 

And  so  it  was  all  fixed.  The  Abbe  was  right. 
Miriam  was  absolutely  and  entirely  happy  with  her 
man,  studying  so  far  as  any  one  could  help  her,  the 
spirit  of  her  new  religion,  and  the  ways  of  thought  of 
the  English.  Their  tents  were  homelike,  for  a  few 
of  the  bright  dyed  saris  from  the  bazaar  had  changed 
the  bare  tents  to  cheerful  bowers,  and  the  Abb6  was 
well  content  to  leave  her  thus.  During  the  few  days 
he  was  to  remain,  the  old  man  would  sit  for  hours 
with  his  convert  regaining  strength,  teaching  her  and 
talking  of  La  Belle  France,  and  all  the  memories  he 
held  dear.  Each  day  David  drilled  and  redrilled  the 
rissalah  to  a  pitch  that  he  hoped  would  attract  Lord 
Lake's  immediate  attention.  Several  young  Mians 
of  Nihal  Singh's  clan  had  joined  and  were  shaping 
into  first-class  troopers.  Ganesha  Singh  made  them 
his  special  charge,  and  as  that  old  man's  fire  had  all 
returned  with  rest  and  satisfaction  at  rejoining  his 
Sahib  after  the  debacle  in  the  hamlet  of  Feroz 
Tuglak,  so  the  Hindu  troopers  were  all  in  good 
form  too. 

David  had  asked  nothing  better  than  that  the 
padre  should  amuse  Miriam  the  long  mornings  when 
he  was  away  with  his  men,  or  making  expeditions 
on  behalf  of  the  Eajah,  and  it  was  with  regret  that 
he  saw  the  time  for  his  departure  draw  nigh.  But 


THE   PAX  BEITANNICA  841 

the  old  man  was  not  to  be  persuaded  to  stay  longer. 
With  returning  strength  came  returning  zeal,  and 
there  was  little  enough  reason  to  attempt  to  detain 
him.  He  was  a  wanderer  on  the  face  of  the  earth, 
busy  only  in  his  Master's  business.  He  must  do  some- 
where in  India  that  which  he  had  done  in  Kashmir,  and 
where  could  he  more  fitly  work  than  in  that  beautiful 
snow-girt  valley  ?  As  the  loadstone  points  to  the 
northward,  so  pointed  duty  and  the  Holy  City  to 
Armande  du  Plessis. 

Since  the  Abb6  would  go,  go  he  should  in  comfort, 
and  a  litter  would  take  him  over  the  pass  with  a  riding 
mule  led  behind.  Tone  would  have  a  suitable 
horse  from  the  troop,  and  one  of  the  men  had  offered 
to  go  back  too,  as  orderly.  The  night  before  they 
set  out  the  Abbe  supped  with  them,  and  sat  long 
watching  the  happy  pair  starting  on  their  life  together. 
Ah  well,  it  had  pleased  God  to  send  him  to  another 
life,  and  he  prayed  always  that  he  might  do  his  work 
in  the  place  to  which  he  had  been  called,  till  La  pous- 
siere  retourne  a  la  terre  ffou  on  Va  tire.  But  all  the  man 
within  cried  aloud  in  sympathy  to  that  happy,  con- 
tented scene  in  the  muslin-hung  tent  in  Cheneni. 
Miriam,  beaming  with  happiness,  looked  radiantly 
beautiful,  there  was  no  doubt  about  that,  beautiful 
as  "  The  face  that  launched  a  hundred  ships  and  burnt 
the  topmost  towers  of  Ilium."  May  peace  and  happi- 
ness ever  be  theirs,  prayed  the  old  man,  and  he  remem- 
bered the  passages  from  Ecclesiastes  that  Daoud  Shah 
had  once  quoted  so  glibly — 

"  Jouis  de  la  vie  avec  la  femme  que  tu  aimes,  pendant 
tons  les  jours  de  ta  me  de  vanite  que  Dieu  fa  donne  sous 
la  soleil" 

Was  Elohim  right  in  calling  it  all  vanity  ?  Surely, 
thought  the  Abbe,  these  two,  this  boy  and  the  maid, 
may  live  a  life  that  is  not  to  be  vain.  Then  as  the 


342  A  FEEELANCE  IN  KASHMIR 

evening  slipped  away  and  Tone  came  in  to  sit  with 
them  too,  it  soon  grew  late  and  the  old  man  with- 
drew with  the  Latin  blessing  for  the  last  time,  Bene- 
dicat  ws,  Omnipotens  Deus,  Pater,  Filius  et  Spiritus 
Sanctus.  Amen."  The  next  morning  they  made  an  early 
start  with  not  only  David  and  Mary,  but  the  whole 
of  the  rissalah  there  to  do  them  honour,  and  every 
man  insisted  on  placing  his  hands  in  those  of  the  Abbe, 
after  which  they  watched  the  small  cavalcade  wind 
away  up  the  hillside  for  several  miles. 

So  Armande  du  Plessis  passed  away  out  of  their 
sight  and  for  three  weeks  more  the  happy  couple 
remained  in  that  upland  paradise,  and  it  was  a  very 
polished  squadron  that  marched  away  down  to  the 
plains.  The  heat,  however,  grew  considerable,  and 
at  Jammu  David  accepted  an  offer  of  a  cantonment 
at  Udampur  till  the  rains  were  over,  coupled  with 
free  grass  for  his  horses  in  return  for  keeping  off 
certain  hill  raiders.  Early  in  September  he  started 
down  through  the  Punjab  once  again  strong  enough  to 
go  unquestioned  along  the  great  highway  till  at  last 
he  heard  that  the  British  were  camped  a  march  away. 
With  them  was  the  great  Commander-in- Chief  himself, 
Lord  Lake  of  Laswarie,  still  fighting  for  the  peace  of 
the  countryside  against  all  the  disintegrated  forces 
that  survived  from  the  Great  Anarchy.  There  for 
the  first  time  David  saw  a  regiment  of  British  Light 
Dragoons  fresh  from  the  famous  pursuit  of  Holkar, 
and  now  bent  on  hustling  the  raiding  Sikhs  north 
once  more,  and  with  them  regiments  of  irregular 
horse,  row  on  row  of  serried  battalions  and  a  horsed 
artillery. 

Straight  into  the  camp  rode  David,  demanding 
audience  of  the  Chief  himself,  which  he  promptly 
got.  He  at  once  asked  for  service  and  asked  leave 
to  parade  Jiis  rissalah  for  inspection.  The  general 


THE  PAX  BKITANNICA  343 

taken  with  the  young  man's  face  and  bearing  and  his 
history  of  events  in  Kashmir,  calling  on  James  Skinner 
his  prince  of  irregulars  to  come  too,  rode  out  then  and 
there,  to  see  David's  men  on  parade.  A  right  good 
show  they  made,  and  he  offered  to  take  the  lad  on  and 
put  him  and  his  horse  in  charge  of  a  district  till  he 
learnt  the  Governor-General's  pleasure. 

So  David  and  his  wife  marched  away  to  take  over 
the  administration  of  a  province  that  was  to  be 
managed  and  pacified  after  the  manner  of  the  English. 
Before  long  there  came  an  order  from  the  Governor- 
General  authorizing  him  to  raise  his  horse  to  three 
hundred  troopers  and  confirming  him  in  the  position 
of  a  permanent  officer  of  local  irregulars,  concerned 
especially  in  spreading  peace  in  the  land. 

How  David  squared  accounts  with  the  Begum 
Somru  and  repaid  her  loan,  and  how  that  lady  offered 
to  marry  him  and  wipe  it  all  out,  and  how  the  indignant 
Miriam  sold  her  own  Kashmir  sapphires  to  enable 
him  to  repay  it  forthwith,  need  not  be  told  here.  Nor 
how  Yar  Khan,  the  scorner  of  women,  did  actually, 
as  Miriam  had  prophesied,  marry  the  Alana  Bibi, 
acquiring  incidentally  her  estates  thereby.  Nor  again 
how  the  British  pacified  all  Northern  India  except 
the  Punjab,  and  bowed  out  or  took  into  their  service 
all  the  freelances,  for  that  is  another  story  too  long  to 
tell  here.  This  story  as  it  stands,  has  but  told  how 
one  young  freelance,  taking  fortune  by  the  hand, 
sallied  forth  to  carve  a  career.  How  finding  his  way 
over  the  snows  to  Kashmir,  there  met  his  lady-love, 
as  many  have  done  since,  fought  for  her  and  bore  her 
off  in  triumph  from  that  strange  wanderer  in  the  guise 
of  the  Ben-i-Israel,  who  had  been  the  stormy  petrel 
of  the  waning  anarchy  till  it  faded  into  the  Pax  Brit- 
annica  and  the  ever  reddening  map.  That  map  the 
Ferassa  Rissalah  helped  to  redden  for  over  half  a 


344  A  FREELANCE   IN  KASHMIR 

century.  Then  there  blew  the  Great  Wind,  which 
swept  away  in  a  night  half  the  old  army  of  John 
Company,  regular  and  irregular,  and  incidentally  the 
glory  of  a  hundred  years  and  the  Ferassa  Eissalafi. 
To  its  eternal  honour  and  that  of  Crawford  Chamberlain 
its  commandant,  the  parent  rissalah  of  old  James 
Skinner  remained,  a  monument  of  faithfulness  and  a 
memory  of  the  Freelance. 


THE    END 


PRINTED   BY   WILLIAM   CLOWfcS   AND  SOJwS,   LIMITED,   LONDON   AND   BKCCLES. 


A     000  676  626     5 


